Mohammed opens 3rd session of FNC

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, today opened the 3rd ordinary session of the 15th legislative chapter of the Federal National Council, in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Their Highnesses the Crown Princes of the Emirates.

The opening ceremony of the session was attended by Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah.

Also present were Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Ahmed Juma Al Za'abi, Deputy Minister for Presidential Affairs, Lt. General Misbah bin Rashid Al Fattan, Director of the Office of the Vice-President, Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director-General of Dubai Protocol and Hospitality, a number of Sheikhs, Ministers, civilian and military senior officials and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the UAE.

The opening ceremony began with the arrival of Sheikh Mohammed at the FNC headquarters. He was welcomed by FNC Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, and members of the general secretariat. The national anthem of the UAE was played and Sheikh Mohammed inspected the guard of honour and exchanged greetings.

After a recitation from the Holy Quran, Shaikh Mohammad opened the third session of the 15th legislative chapter of FNC, praying to Almighty Allah that "House will continue to work for the good of the country and its people."

FNC Speaker Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr delivered a speech thanking President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan,  Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and  Rulers of the Emirates, for their sustainable support to the FNC’s march and its role in serving the citizens and the country.

Al Murr affirmed the approach adopted by His Highness the Head of State to promote and develop political life in the country, ensuring stability and the development of political awareness among its citizens away from alliances and political extremism.

"Sustainable development in various fields is not possible without stability of our country, which is the basic factor to achieve its renaissance and sustainable development and ensuring decent life for its people," he said.

FNC Speaker reviewed, during his speech, the achievements made by the Council in its past edition in terms of discussion of many laws and legislation that referred by the government and took the recommendations that serve the nation and the citizen for promoting the march of the Union.

Sheikh Mohammed, then, delivered the opening speech in which he began: "In the Name of Allah, The most beneficent, the most merciful, we inaugurate the third ordinary session of the 15th legislative chapter of your esteemed council, appreciating your truthful efforts and your cooperation with the government in UAE's march toward achieving success, which was laid down by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the Founding Fathers.

In his speech, Sheikh Mohammed affirmed the importance of participation of the sons and daughters of the nation in building a modern state, praying to Allah the Almighty to achieve the aspirations of our people and the well-being, prosperity and stability for the people of this dear nation.

Commended the role of the FNC in building a modern state, vibrant state institutions, law and justice Sheikh Mohammed said: " We, as leadership seek happiness of our people in all areas and regions of the state... and we will be not happy and comfortable, if the sons and daughters of the land are not so, as we want them."

Text of His Highness the President's speech at opening session of FNC

Below is the text of speech of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the opening session of the 3rd ordinary session of the 15th legislative chapter of the Federal National Council, read on his behalf Monday by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai:

"In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful, we inaugurate the third ordinary session of the 15th legislative chapter of your esteemed council, appreciating your truthful efforts and your cooperation with the government in UAE's march toward achieving success, which was laid down by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers, the Founding Fathers, and which has been sincerely driven by the nation's sons and daughters in different fields at different levels.

We pray to Allah the almighty to grant us success in realising aspirations of our people and in shouldering the responsibility of sustaining the march of building the nation, maintaining the rule of law and achieving prosperity and progress to the people of the country and we hope that your Council will exemplify transparency, responsibility and decision making.

May Allah bless you with success.

Mohammed bin Rashid visits GAIAE

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Monday visited the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAISE) in Abu Dhabi.

Sheikh Mohammed, who was accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and a number of senior officials, was welcomed upon arrival at the GAIAE headquarters by Dr. Hamdan Musallam Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the GAIAE, and top officials.

During the visit, Sheikh Mohammed presented the UAE medal for the first batch of 11 male and female graduates from Morocco's University Mohammed V - Abu Dhabi for obtaining the bachelor and master's degrees and who joined the GAIAE as preachers.

''I congratulate you on this achievement and on what level you have reached on religious preaching... this is just the first step on the path, which we want you to arrive at its end,'' Sheikh Mohammed said, addressing the graduates.

He urged them to have long patience and open heart to listen to questions from Muslims on issues regarding Islamic Shariah.

He also wished them success in serving their country and the tolerant Islam away from extremism and adopting moderation, understanding and tolerance as their means to deliver their national message.

 Sheikh Mohammed received the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Shield from Dr. Al Mazrouie in honour of his visit to the GAIAE.

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