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Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Washington DC
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THE MEDIA section

UAE Embassy in Washington DC celebrates 38th UAE National Day

Washington, DC (2 December 2009) -- His Excellency Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates' Ambassador to the US, hosted a gala reception at the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC on December 2 in honor of the country's 38th's National Day.

Ambassador Al Otaiba with distinguished guests at the National Day Gala: Pictured from left: US Ambassador Deborah Jones, US Ambassador Richard Olson, US Ambassador Michele Sisson, Former US Ambassador David Mack, UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba, Former US Ambassador Marcelle Wahba, and AMIDEAST President Theodore Kattouf.
Ambassador Al Otaiba with distinguished guests at the National Day Gala: Pictured from left: US Ambassador Deborah Jones, US Ambassador Richard Olson, US Ambassador Michele Sisson, Former US Ambassador David Mack, UAE Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba, Former US Ambassador Marcelle Wahba, and AMIDEAST President Theodore Kattouf.

Honored guests at this year's celebratory event included a first-of-its-kind delegation of women leaders from the UAE, who are in Washington, DC this week for a series of high-level meetings with US officials in government, business and think tanks. During the meetings, the Emirati delegation exchanged views with their US counterparts on the role of women around the world, and in the UAE. The senior Emirati delegation included:

  • Her Highness Sheikha Dr. Hind Al Qassimi, Chairwoman, Board of Directors, Emirates Businesswomen Council
  • Her Highness Sheikha Khulood Saqer Al Qassimi, Director, Department for Curriculum and Instructional Materials Development at the UAE Ministry of Education
  • Eng. Masara Y. Al Ameri, Urban Planning Department Manager, Masdar
  • Dr. Najwa Mohamed Alhosani, Assistant Professor, United Arab Emirates University
  • Dr. Maryam Matar, Deputy Chairperson, Dubai Cares

"It is a mark of how far the UAE has progressed that we can commemorate the 38th National Day here in Washington with a distinguished group of UAE women leaders from the fields of business and entrepreneurship, philanthropy and education," said Ambassador Al Otaiba. "Forty years ago, women along with men had a very limited access to education in the UAE. Today, 70 percent of graduates from UAE universities are women. We have four women as fighter pilots in the UAE Air Force. Four women serve in the UAE federal cabinet and one-fifth of our national assembly are women."

The UAE is an exemplar in its region, with a transparent legal system that reflects a full regard for the quality of life of all citizens and residents. The UAE constitution guarantees equal rights for women, including claim to titles, access to education, and the right to work.

Women in the UAE can today be found working in government, engineering, science, health care, media, computer technology, law, commerce and the oil industry. Last year Judge Khulood Al Dhaheri was sworn in as the UAE's first female member of the judiciary.

During his remarks at the Embassy's reception, Ambassador Al Otaiba applauded UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Federation's other leaders on the occasion of the UAE's 38th National Day. He also noted the strength of the UAE's relationship with the United States.

"The UAE and US marked many bilateral milestones this year," said Ambassador Al Otaiba. "Most significantly, the US and UAE completed a treaty to allow the transfer of civilian nuclear know-how between our two countries. We also advanced the bilateral relationship across other key areas in defense, security, economy and trade, education and health care."

Created 03-Dec-2009. Last updated 10-Dec-2009.

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