Salama bint Hamdan is a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, House of Nahyan. Her father, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, was a former UAE deputy prime minister. Her mother was Maryam bint Abdullah bin Sulayem Al Falasi, who died on 9 February 2023.[1]
She is the founder and president of a philanthropic foundation with her name, Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, based in Abu Dhabi.[2][3] She is also the chair of the Abu Dhabi Art Host Committee.[2] She is the owner of various significant paintings which were produced by Pablo Picasso and Rudolf Ernst and also, modern Egyptian painting in addition to Islamic ceramics.[4] In 2010 she bought a work by Damien Hirst from the White Cube gallery for $4 million.[5]
Her other public roles include chair of the General Women's Union, president of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and supreme chair of the Family Development Foundation.[6] She is the recipient of the woman personality of the year award in 2011 by the Middle East Excellence Awards Institute and the Sharjah voluntary work award in 2012.[2] She was among the Canvass magazine's Power 50 in relation to her activities in Middle Eastern art and culture.[2]
Marriage and children
In 1981 Salama bint Hamdan married Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan with whom she has nine children, four sons and five daughters.[7] They also have two adopted daughters, and 16 grandchildren.[8]
