Continue Visit to Abu Dhabi, Megawati Meets UAE President's Mother

ABU DHABI, KOMPAS - The 5th President of Indonesia, Megawati Soekarnoputri, continued her visit to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, after visiting Italy, Rome, and Saudi Arabia. The Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle is in Abu Dhabi to fulfill the invitation of the mother of the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikha Fatima binti Mubaraq Al Ketbi.

Megawati, along with her son and daughter, Mohammad Rizki Pratama and Puan Maharani, arrived at Al Bateen Executive Airport, Abu Dhabi, on Friday afternoon (14/2/2025) local time. The three of them flew from Medina, Saudi Arabia, after completing a series of umrah rituals at the Masjidil Haram in Mecca, and visiting the tomb of Prophet Muhammad SAW at the Nabawi Mosque in Medina.

Upon arriving in Abu Dhabi, Megawati was welcomed by the special envoy from Sheikha Fatima Binti Mubaraq Al Ketbi, Maitha Binti Salem Al Shamsi, and the UAE Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdulla Salem Al-Dhaheri.

Megawati previously stated that she would visit Abu Dhabi to fulfill an invitation from Sheikha Fatima, the mother of UAE President Mohammed Bin Zayed. "The visit to the United Arab Emirates is due to an invitation from the Queen Mother (Sheikha Fatima)," she said in Medina before departing for Abu Dhabi.

During her time in Abu Dhabi, Megawati will also be accompanied by several officials and elites from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Among them are the Indonesian Ambassador to the UAE Husin Bagis, the Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia Zuhairi Misrawi, the Chairman of the PDI-P Foreign Affairs Division Ahmad Basarah, and the Head of the PDI-P Central Policy Research and Analysis Agency, Andi Widjajanto.

Basarah revealed that the meeting between Megawati and Sheikha Fatimah will be held on Saturday (15/2/2025). "In addition, she will also meet with UAE President Mohammed Bin Zayed," he said.

Abu Dhabi became the fourth country visited by Megawati during her overseas trip. For more than two weeks, Megawati visited Italy, the Vatican, Saudi Arabia, and finally the UAE.

Megawati previously said that her overseas trip this time was the longest. The visit was made to fulfill invitations from several parties that were delayed due to technical issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sheikha Fatimah is the wife of the UAE's founder, Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who actively advocates for the rights of women and children. She is the President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood and Chairwoman of the General Women's Union and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation in the UAE.

The General Women's Union was founded on August 28, 1975 by Skheiha Fatimah. Today, August 28 is a public holiday to commemorate the efforts of UAE women to achieve equality and empowerment.

Seikha Fatimah also launched the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security to empower and promote women's equality around the world.