A special guided experience reveals how women have influenced life in the Emirates, from its earliest communities to the formation of the modern nation.
Women of the Nation
The history of the UAE has been shaped not only by celebrated leaders, but by generations of women whose knowledge, work and resilience sustained communities. A new thematic tour at Zayed National Museum brings these stories into focus in celebration of Emirati Women’s Day.
Titled Women of the Nation, the experience draws on objects, oral histories and traditions found throughout the museum. Rather than following a strictly chronological path, it reveals the many ways women have contributed to life in the region, from preserving ancestral skills to supporting education and influencing leadership.
Among the tour’s earliest stories is that of a woman buried approximately 8,000 years ago. The objects discovered alongside her, including shell jewellery and ceremonial daggers, suggest that she occupied a respected position within her community. Other archaeological pieces offer glimpses of women’s authority and involvement in the societies that developed across the region.
The experience also highlights the essential role women played in coastal communities. While men were away for extended periods fishing, trading or pearl diving, women managed households, cared for families and helped maintain the social fabric of life onshore.
This legacy of knowledge is explored through practices such as Al Sadu weaving, falconry and traditional herbal remedies. Often learned through observation and shared experience, these skills were passed between mothers, daughters and neighbours, allowing cultural traditions to endure across generations.
The tour also considers the women who helped shape the values and development of the modern UAE.
Visitors will also discover the impact of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, particularly her work to advance women’s education and participation in public life. Among the significant objects featured is a Quran presented to her by the first female graduates of United Arab Emirates University.
Women of the Nation takes place at Zayed National Museum every Thursday in English and Saturday in Arabic, from 3pm to 3.45pm. The programme runs until September 28, 2026.
