Mohammed salutes Armed Forces on Unification Day

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has stressed that celebrating the UAE Armed Forces Unification Day 38th anniversary is not merely to commemorate the historical decision in the march of our nation, but is also a celebration of our present and our national achievement in all fields.

In a speech on the occasion, Sheikh Mohammed addressed the UAE Armed Forces in ‘Diraa Al Watan’ (Nation Shield) magazine; he said: "The march of  building our armed forces is a live model that  recapitulates the process of building our state and bears witness to the wisdom, foresight and giving of  the generations of foundation and  empowerment, and confirms the validity and soundness of the approach established by our parents;  and the plants grown  by the builder and farsighted leader the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, have become strong and fruitful."

Addressing the armed forces personnel, Sheikh Mohammed said: I salute your nobility, deep loyalty, and sincerity, high preparedness to carry out your sacred duty to maintain the security, sovereignty, stability and dignity of our homeland.

“I salute your spirit of altruism, giving and continuous preparedness to defend the country and sacrifice for it.”

Below is the full text of the statement made by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of the Armed Forces Unification Day. 

Dear brothers, sons, officers and soldiers of the UAE Armed Forces,

May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you,

I salute you on the day of our Armed Forces. I salute you for your gallantry, your profound loyalty, your sincere patriotism and your preparedness to perform your sacred mission of safeguarding sovereignty and strengthening stability and security of our country.
I salute your spirit of selflessness, your willingness to sacrifice and your resolve to stand out and to adapt to the latest in the armament, technology, organisation, management and training.
 

Dear officers and soldiers,
As we celebrate the 38th anniversary of the decision to unify our Armed Forces, we also celebrate our national achievements in all fields. The building of our Armed Forces is a living example of the wisdom and vision of the founding fathers generation and the empowerment generation. The seeds of development planted by the nation builder and leader the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan are bearing fruits today in the form of schools, factories, hospitals, infrastructures and importantly, messages of peace and commitment to the common destiny we share with the whole world.

Dear officers and soldiers,
This year's celebration has a special significance as we prepare to implement the compulsory military service for our male youth, which will be optional for women.

For years, the compulsory military service programme was high on our national action agenda. It was also evident through the 'Bayariq' educational programme in the secondary schools which covered military education, police sciences and cognitive skills. We relied on our experience and on the right time for the implementation of the decision which was well received by all people of the UAE. The phrase 'Absher ya Watan' or 'Hail the motherland' which went viral among the youth of the country was yet another proof of our mature community and of the belief among the citizens that serving one's country is an honour and defending one's country is a moral commitment for all citizens.

I am confident that our youth will passionately race to enlist to demonstrate their love to their country and their allegiance to the leaders. They will join the Armed Forces to acquire new skills that will add their knowledge, shape their character, enhance their self-confidence and increase their stamina for, military service is a school for bravery, discipline, responsibility, decision making, time management and teamwork.

Dear officers and soldiers,

Modernisation of the Armed Forces has always factored in our approach for national action. The military service programme will help strengthen the structure and capabilities of our Armed Forces as we continue to sustain our principles for peaceful co-existence and good neighbourliness.

I am particularly proud that our Armed Forces has become a key incubator for development and progress in building capabilities and in laying the foundation for advanced defence manufacturing industries, paving the way for technology transfer and eventually, for the Emiratisation of technology, promoting Research and Development, contributing to economic diversification drive and accelerating the transition from conventional to knowledge-based economy.

The 1976 dream of the founding father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of an Emirati defence industry is coming true under the leadership of President and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Our defence industry has come a long way, by meeting the needs of our Armed Forces and even exporting to brotherly and friendly countries. Today, we manufacture ships, military vehicles, missiles, ammunitions, UAVs, light arms, aerospace components and weapon systems.

This success in defence manufacturing complements our success in other areas of developments and adds to our capabilities. The history has always taught us that Armed Forces play a pioneering role in progress and that scientific research, innovation, discovery and inventions are usually triggered by national defence necessities. Examples here include computer, information technology, internet, satellites, fire optics, jet fighters, submarines and nuclear energy.

As we witness the emergence of home-grown advanced defence industries, we must extend thanks to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan who leads the Armed Forces modernisation drive and to His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces who closely follows up implementation of manufacturing and Emirati capability building strategies and plans. I would like also to thank our sons and daughters engaged in managing and operating national manufacturing facilities.

Dear officers and soldiers,

You and all sons and daughters of the UAE have been tested by the time, events and challenges and you overcame the challenges by remaining loyal to your leadership and by working hard to serve your country. With you, mwe have succeeded in presenting a shining example, emanating from our belief that they key to good governance is to seek to serve the interest of the people to ensure their prosperity and happiness and to realize security, stability and safety of our country and its ability to confront threats and to deal with the worst.

The strong bond of trust between the leaders and citizens has enabled us to move along the path of comprehensive development, relying on the vision, strategies, values, heritage and openness to changes.

Dear officers and soldiers,

I urge you and all Emiratis to strengthen your determination and to boost your positive energy to reach the top as the country's strengths is measure by its people who are the real power behind achievements.

You know that the only option for us is to continue adding to our achievements and of course, we have the right to be proud of what we have accomplished so far, and to be happy that country is leading the ranks in all human and economic development and competitiveness indicators.

We should always bear in mind that what we have accomplished is the past and the real value is on what we can do today and tomorrow because of the fact that life dose not stop and that he who is lazy, hesitant, scared and submissive gets left behind. On the other hand, life rewards the ambitious, hard workers, and those who are driven by initiative and excellence.

Dear officers and soldiers,

Tomorrow is another day with another tasks, challenges and dreams.

We will do all we can and we will walk to the future, using our own Emirati recipe for success and success we shall make as we are blessed with a leader who has a clear vision. We move ahead, inspired by the teachings of the holy Quran and of our Prophet Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him.

Receives Ban Ki-moon

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai received UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at Zabeel Palace and exchanged with him views on a variety of regional and international issues as well as developmental and humanitarian matters.

The UN secretary general commended approaches and vision of the UAE leadership towards sustainable development and deployment of renewable energy, noting that these sound, landmark projects reflect the UAE leadership's far-sighted vision towards diversification of sources of national income, conservation of local environment and sincere efforts to provide development aid to a number of countries in area of renewable energy.

The UN chief also noted the humanitarian assistance and stances of the President, government, agencies and people towards peoples and countries struck by natural and man-made disasters or famine and other calamities.

Ban emphasised that the UAE has become among the leading countries globally in the delivery of valuable humanitarian assistance to needy peoples regardless of geography, race or religion.

The meeting was attended by Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Emirates Group, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State, Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director General of the Ruler of Dubai's Court, Khalifa Saeed Sulieman, Director General of Dubai Protocols and Hospitality Department, Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations and a number of UN officials.

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