The National Archives and Library is marking Emirati Women’s Day with a month-long program that looks at the women who have contributed to the UAE’s history and development.
Running under the theme “Together, We Emerge Stronger and Better,” the program brings together historical photographs, archival material, books, talks, seminars, and workshops. The initiative is being held in line with the directives of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the “Mother of the Nation”, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.
Looking Back Through the Archives
A central part of the program is the photography exhibition “Emirati Women in the National Memory.”
Drawn from the National Archives and Library’s collections, the exhibition presents photographs documenting Emirati women at different points in the country’s history. The material offers glimpses into their lives and the roles they took on as the UAE developed.
Historical photographs and archival documents will also be made available to the public during the program.
The institution will additionally showcase material from the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive (AGDA), which provides access to historical records relating to the UAE and the wider Gulf region.
Books about Emirati women will feature alongside the archival material. Among the titles being highlighted are Zayed and Women, Thus Spoke Fatima bint Mubarak, and The Diaries of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
Why Family Archives Matter
The program also turns attention to records kept outside formal institutions.
Dr Abdullah Majid Al Ali, Director-General of the National Archives and Library, will give a lecture titled “The Archives and the Family.” The session will examine the value of keeping family photographs, documents, and personal memories, as well as the potential of these records to contribute to the country’s broader historical record.
Family collections can offer details about everyday life that may not appear in official archives. The lecture will also consider how such material can help preserve cultural values and pass memories from one generation to another.
Two seminars are scheduled as part of the program. One will examine the role of Emirati women within the family as social life continues to change, under the title “The Role of Emirati Women in the Family: Between Contemporary Life and Modernity.” Another seminar will focus on the journey and achievements of Emirati women.
Workshops and Community Participation
Workshops will form another part of the month-long program, with the National Archives and Library working alongside national projects, productive families, and the General Women’s Union.
The program brings together formal archival records with personal memories, publications, and community activities. Through these different formats, the National Archives and Library is documenting women’s contributions while highlighting the importance of preserving materials that will help future generations understand the country’s past.
The institution said documenting the achievements of Emirati women is part of its wider responsibility to preserve the UAE’s history and national memory for generations to come.
