Agencies: Noura Al Suwaidi, Secretary General of the General Women's Union, urged Marcy Grossman, the Canadian Ambassador to the UAE, to enhance bilateral relations between the United Arab Emirates and Canada and explore opportunities for developing joint cooperation in supporting and empowering women, which is of interest to both countries as it strengthens their common interests and serves their efforts to advance the woman’s journey towards broader horizons of leadership and development.

The ambassador was briefed on the national strategy for empowering and leading women launched by the General Women's Union between 2002 and 2014, considered the first of its kind among the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and then it was updated in 2015-2021.

It is considered one of the most important initiatives and projects launched by the General Women's Union and has the credit for the radical transformation in the issue of women's empowerment in the country, due to the framework it provided as a reference and guidance for government institutions (federal and local), private sector, and civil society organizations in setting work plans and programs specific to empowering women, amidst its efforts in cooperation with all state institutions to continue achieving the vision and directives of the wise leadership to reach higher levels of progress and achievements to elevate the status of Emirati women and support their creative journey filled with successes and leadership.

During the visit, the ambassador learned about the most prominent initiatives launched by the UAE to consolidate women's rights and gains over the past half-century, which laid a strong foundation for their future journey within the UAE's next fifty-year plan, after the UAE constitution guaranteed women's rights and approved the principle of equality between men and women, appropriate to their nature. The state issued many legislations and policies, including a decision to raise the percentage of women's participation in diplomatic representation and international organizations, enhance women's participation on the boards of directors of federal companies, as well as a decision mandating the presence of nurseries in government workplaces to support working women. Furthermore, the law on equal pay and salaries in federal entities in 2018 was issued, in addition to amending maternity and childbirth leave in federal, local, and military sectors.

The discussion also addressed the agenda of the United Nations Women Agency in cooperation with the General Women's Union on this matter.

For his part, Marcy Grossman confirmed her country's keenness to enhance cooperation with the UAE in all fields, especially women's empowerment, in addition to benefiting from the UAE's experience in gender balance, praising the UAE's efforts in giving Emirati women full confidence, paving all roads, and opening unlimited horizons to enable them to rise in the skies of knowledge and work and build the nation alongside their male counterparts, thanks to the wise vision of the leadership and the great efforts of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.