After the conference today, I, along with some of the panelists, were invited to meet Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi, wife of the founder and the first president of the United Arab Emirates and the late ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, at her palace.
Sheikha Fatima is one of the biggest supporters of women’s right, education, and sports. She founded the ‘Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy’ and the annual International Conference on Women Sports in Abu Dhabi. She is considered the Mother of UAE.
It’s a big honor but sorry no pictures were allowed 🙂 It was also a great honor to be able to meet many other successful women athletes, from all over the world, to share our stories of successes and challenges.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
I hope someone asked about women’s rights in general in the Arab world… Worrying about women’s progress in ‘sport’ when they have the same status as livestock strikes me as a premature effort.
I am in UAE, and was invited by the UAE organizer, which works for the Royal family. This country is far more advanced than other Arab countries in women’s rights. It’s inappropriate for me to ask them about other Arab countries when this conference is about UAE.
Where is the freedom of SPORTS as they said? Even only a picture is PROHIBITED?
Susan, I apologize if you inferred that I was suggesting you would personally challenge your hosts – of course not. I was wondering out loud where the equality was for women in (most of) the Arab world and the entire world in general.
I believe you are correct that UAE is far more liberal in that respect than some of the other countries in that region.
Kudos for doing what you do. 🙂
Dear Susan,
I was working with her highness sheikha Fatima office in Abu dhabi. Since 2009 to. 2015 April.
Unfortunately due to mis management of top level politics I got terminated in 2015.
I got best employee award also but the CEO mr. Amit wanchoo terminated me without reason.
And ask me to give resignation. Not only me there are more than 12 employees.
I am proud of her highness. She is good women and no.1 in world who r giving charities.
She don’t know anything What’s going on her office but I pray to god at least this letter should go
to her directly. I am expecting her highness help. Thanks
Manoj Kumar