The UAE leadership has empowered Emirati women, including those in business, to play a more effective role and become key partners in development, innovation, creativity and spreading happiness in society, said H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

H.H. Sheikha Fatima, who is also the Honorary Chairperson of the UAE Businesswomen Council and the Abu Dhabi Businesswomen Council, made the remark in her speech, which was read out at an event held here last night to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the two councils and also to honour the national leaders among businesswomen, key supporters of women in business and senior officials.

She praised President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates for supporting businesswomen.

The founder of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, played a significant role in promoting gender equality and created opportunities that empowered women to become a pillar of the country's economy and major influencers in the labour market, H.H. Sheikha Fatima said in the speech, which was read out by H.H. Sheikh Dhiyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"As early as the 1970s, we worked on addressing the challenges facing women and removing barriers that blocked their advancement. In 2002, we launched the National Strategy for Empowerment of Emirati Women as a strategic framework for providing opportunities for work and creativity to all women while protecting their rights," she said.

"Businesswomen councils in the UAE work under one umbrella to reflect cohesion, solidarity and positive and constructive competition.

Over the course of the past 15 years, the number of businesswomen in the UAE jumped to 23,000 of which 12,000 are Emiratis who run more than 45,000 companies, accounting for nine per cent of the total number of companies operating in the country, with investments to the tune of AED50 billion," she added.

In the private sector, women also account for five per cent of chairs and 17 per cent of the members of boards of directors at companies, as well as 15 per cent of the boards of Emirati chambers of commerce, Sheikha Fatima further noted.

Sheikhas, ministers, senior officials and heads of business councils and chambers of commerce and industries also attended the event held at the Emirates Palace Hotel.