RIYADH: The UAE Embassy celebrated Emirati Women’s Day at the Marriot hotel in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter on Tuesday.  The event, which was attended by prominent female figures from the UAE and Saudi Arabia, highlighted the role and achievements of women in supporting economic, social, scientific and human development.  The celebration comes as the UAE is supporting the year of tolerance under the theme “Women are a symbol of tolerance.” Dr. Alya Al-Masumi, a neurosurgery specialist at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh, and Aisha Hareb, director general of the corporate social responsibility department at the Community Development Authority, were the guests of honor. The Saudi presenter Sarah Dundarawy moderated the panel discussion. Al-Masumi discussed her inspiring experience as the first Emirati female neurosurgery specialist. She reflected on the close ties between the two countries and called for enhancing the exchange of expertise. Hareb presented the history of the empowerment of Emirati women, which is championed today by Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, president of the General Women’s Union, supreme president of the Family Development Foundation and president of the Supreme Council for Childhood and Motherhood. She is credited with announcing UAE Women’s Day for the first time on Aug. 28, 2015. During the event, Al-Masumi, Hareb and Aisha Salem Al-Naqbi, a young Emirati writer, were honored.  Al-Naqbi was recognized for inspiring a new generation of Emirati and Saudi female writers to record the success of their communities, to shape their future and deliver their humanitarian message. The event included an art exhibition and a video presentation on the achievements of women in the UAE. They covered four main themes: Empowering women, leadership, women in media platforms and their presence in international forums.