Emirati women celebrated at Expo 2020 Dubai

The UAE Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai is displaying a series of photographs of Emirati women as part of their International Women's Day celebrations.

At the heart of the UAE Gender Balance Council's 'UAE's Women Face Print' exhibition is a rare painting of Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The display is a ladies-centric collection of 30 photos featuring lifestyles in the Emirates before the foundation of the Union.

It highlights the contributions and presence of women in various aspects of life, as housewives, teachers, farmers, and craftswomen, or in roles in the advanced ranks of the police, amongst others. 

"Exploring the stories behind each unique and inspiring photograph transports us to the past with all its details and simplicity in celebration of the strength and resilience of the Emirati spirit, while also documenting the vital role that women played in shaping our history," said Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of the Dubai Women Establishment and wife of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

She added that each collection has been attributed to a meaningful word in the Emirati dialect to shed light on the Emirati spirit. There’s a narrative behind each of the four collections of photographs, but the photographs have one main purpose, which is to document the vital role that women played in shaping our history.