UAE Launches Fifth Sheikha Fatima Women Peace Training

The General Women’s Union (GWU) has launched the fifth training programme under the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Initiative, a key platform for empowering women leaders across the world. The programme is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the GWU, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation. It represents a major step in the UAE’s continuous efforts to advance gender equality and peacebuilding globally.

Organised in partnership with the Ministry of Defence and in coordination with the UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC, the initiative combines academic, technical, and military training. This collaboration demonstrates the UAE’s commitment to practical, hands-on education that enables women to contribute effectively to their nations’ peace and stability efforts.

The current cohort includes women from 18 nations: the UAE, Egypt, Kenya, Angola, Yemen, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Chad, Liberia, Mali, Kyrgyz Republic, Kosovo, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Tanzania, Uganda, Paraguay, and Eswatini. The diversity of participants highlights the global recognition of the UAE’s leadership in women’s empowerment. These participants will undergo an intensive nine-week programme designed to strengthen their leadership and peacebuilding skills.

The launch coincides with the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Adopted in 2000, this resolution calls for increased participation of women in conflict prevention, peace negotiations, and post-conflict reconstruction. The UAE’s initiative directly supports these goals by providing women with training to serve as mediators, peacekeepers, and community leaders.

Noura Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Secretary-General of the GWU, described the launch as a “new milestone in the journey of empowerment and giving led by H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation.” Since 2019, the initiative has grown into a global platform that enhances women’s participation in peace processes and decision-making. Al Suwaidi emphasized that graduates are expected to return home as agents of peace, stability, and sustainable development.

The programme spans nine weeks, including seven weeks of military training followed by two weeks focused on peacebuilding and peacekeeping. Participants will also receive instruction in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, diplomacy, international decision-making, and foreign policy. This diverse curriculum is designed to equip women with the skills and confidence to take leadership roles in national and international peace missions.

All activities take place at the Khawla bint Al Azwar Military School for Women in Abu Dhabi. Conducted under the supervision of the Ministry of Defence, the training combines practical military education with classroom instruction. This setting gives participants a unique opportunity to learn discipline, leadership, and cooperation in a controlled environment that encourages teamwork and mutual respect.

Dr. Mouza Al Shehhi, Director of the UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC, praised the UAE’s strong and strategic partnership with UN Women. She said that the successive cohorts of this programme “demonstrate the UAE’s clear vision and belief in the importance of empowering women as key contributors to peace and development.” Dr. Al Shehhi added that the new Strategic Partnership Framework (2024–2027) between the UAE and UN Women will open further opportunities to promote women’s roles in global security.

Since its inception, the Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Women, Peace and Security Initiative has trained more than 600 women from across the world. Many of them have gone on to serve in peace missions, community development projects, and international organisations. The success of the programme reinforces the UAE’s position as a regional and global leader in supporting women’s participation in peacekeeping and decision-making processes.

The UAE’s dedication to training and qualifying women in security and leadership reflects its broader vision for peace and equality. By supporting the implementation of UN Resolution 1325 and empowering women in the military and civil sectors, the UAE continues to help build safer, more inclusive societies. The fifth cohort stands as another powerful example of how the nation turns commitment into meaningful global action.