Mohammed visits women’s museum in Dubai's Gold Souk

Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied by Dubai Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Sheikh Mohammed autographed the museum’s guest book saying “I am glad to see Emarati women excel in such creative work that reflects our national entity. The museum is the fruit of an outstanding effort led by Dr. Rafia Ghubash, that shall introduce Emarati culture and heritage to visitors and tourists.

Reviving women’s history will revive the memory of our people and the history of our nation. We support this creative effort.”

 

Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan toured the museum that is displayed over three floors and exhibits historic photos for the founding fathers and other national figures. Sheikh Mohammed also browsed an artwork demonstrating passports of prominent Emarati women from the British Colony period.

 

Sheikh Mohammed also viewed an artwork demonstrating Emarati women and politics, the artwork narrates the role of Emarati women in local politics since 1819. Some of the women dignitaries featured in this artwork are Sheikha Hessa bint Al Murr (the mother of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum), Sheikha Salama bint Zayed I, Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan (the wife of late Sheikh Rashid), Aisha bint Mohammed bin Ali bin Huwaidan and Meera bint Mohammed bin Salem Al Suwaidi. In addition to women who have a great role in the modern UAE history, such as Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak (Mother of the Emirates), Chairwoman of UAE General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

 

Accompanying Sheikh Mohammed were, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Sheikh Mohammed’s Advisor for Cultural and Humanitarian Affairs, Ibrahim Mohammed Bu Melha, Chairaman of the Emirates Human Rights Association, Abdul Ghafar Hussein, Dubai Municipality Director General, Hussein Nasser Lootah, Cultural Consultant at Dubai Government, Jamal Huwaireb Al Muhairi, Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality, Khalifa Saeed Suleiman and Director-General of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Khalid bin Sulayem.

 

Among the other exhibits viewed by Sheikh Mohammed, were artworks related to women and education, one of them shows that Emarati women’s education goes back to 1953 until today, while the other artwork shows the statistics of Emarati women’s education since 1959, as well as an artwork about samples of female burqas used by Emarati women throughout different periods, in addition to old traditional costumes and ornaments.

 

Another exhibit consisting of a giant wall painting demonstrates Emarati women’s role in economy and another about their role in the history of women’s associations, which started in 1968 until 2008. The exhibits also includes an old photograph of the home of Obaid Ghubash’s family in the old gold souk in Dubai, which goes back to 1910 until 1985.

 

On the first floor, which documents the history of Emarati women with cartoons and paintings, Sheikh Mohammed viewed historical photographs of late Sheikh Zayed during his tours and meetings at women associations and events organized by women at that time. A special corner, named

“Zayed’s empowerment of women corner”, has been allocated to document this history.

 

The last floor of the museum is dedicated to the famous Emarati poet Ousha bint Khalifa Al Suwaidi, popularly known as “Bint Al Arab” (daughter of Arabs), where Sheikh Mohammed viewed some poems from her diwan, and the most important national poem as well as the last poem written by her. The last floor also includes a hall for meetings and lectures equipped with latest sound and picture equipment.

 

Sheikh Mohammed praised the personal efforts of Dr. Rafia Ghubash and her help to a team of women, who worked with her for five years, to accomplish this historical icon that depicts the beautiful period lived by Emarati women as active elements in the society, and their political, economic, social and humanitarian roles, worthy of being followed and read by UAE women.

 

The Women’s Museum, which has been established at a cost of more than Dh13 million, contains artworks , paintings and costumes, mostly gifted by the families of late Emarati women.

 

Dr. Rafia Ghubash handed Sheikh Mohammed the key of the museum, which is considered the first of its kind in the world. The museum is the third museum worldwide, that is specialized in women affairs and history, after one being in Copenhagen in Denmark and the other being in Japan.

 

His Highness also received the first entrance card to the museum, expressing his happiness at inaugurating this historical edifice.