Her Highness Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum
President of Dubai Women Establishment,
Wife of H.H Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs
Her Highness Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister for Presidential Affairs, is the President of Dubai Women Establishment and President of Dubai Ladies Club.
Endowed with a committed zeal to empower women, Her Highness Sheikha Manal contributes and continues to encourage women in the U.A.E. through her patronage of several noteworthy projects.
In all her activities, she is guided by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the U.A.E., and Ruler of Dubai.
Through her concerted efforts, Her Highness Sheikha Manal has empowered women to effectively participate in the nation’s building. Her unflinching support has helped women in the U.A.E. achieve regional and international recognition. The Complete Woman Programme, which seeks to reinforce the role of women in society by providing them with multi-dimensional experiences, both socially and intellectually, enjoys her wholehearted support.
One of her most notable initiatives was the launch of the H.H. Sheikha Manal Young Artist Award - 'New Signature Competition'. The initiative positively impacted the society, both artistically and culturally, in addition to serving as a vehicle for women to express their inner calling through works of art.
In October 2007, Her Highness led the Dubai Cares campaign initiative to help solicit support and highlight the importance of helping underprivileged young girls overcome obstacles of poverty by securing their access to an education, one that is priceless and eternal.
Her Highness Sheikha Manal is Honorary President of the U.A.E. Association for Down's Syndrome, and Honorary President of the Emirates Marine Environment Group (EMEG). She also contributes to several humanitarian and charitable activities around the Arab world, including the 'Ebdaat' Award for people with special needs. She is the first U.A.E. woman to come forward in support of ‘Our U.A.E. Free of Thalassemia’ campaign, which started in 2006 and will conclude in 2012.
Her Highness Sheikha Manal’s keen artistic talent finds creative expression in her paintings. In 2004, she showcased her canvases for the first time in ‘Chromatic Encounters’, along with other U.A.E. women artists. In 2005, UNICEF selected two of her paintings as greetings cards to be sold around the world, with the proceeds benefiting less privileged children globally
Holder of a Bachelor's degree in Interior Design and a Master’s in Marketing from the American University in Dubai, Her Highness Sheikha Manal is committed to helping women achieve success in the U.A.E.’s economic, social, sports, arts and political arenas.