'UAE's participation in Decisive Storm reaffirms its constant political position'

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has reaffirmed that "Our armed forces are strong, they protect the homeland, safeguards its independence and sovereignty, establish security and stability in the land, and carries out their assigned tasks to the best."

In remarks to Nation Shield journal on the 39th anniversary of the Unification of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed explained that the UAE's participation in the operations Decisive Storm and Restoring Hope reaffirms the UAE's constant political position of supporting the truth and dedication to maintaining security and peace in the region.

Following is the full text of the speech:

In the Name of Allah, the All Beneficent, All Merciful

Dear Brothers, Sisters and Sons,

Valiant Officers and Soldiers of our Armed Forces

Our annual meeting is being held today on the anniversary of the unification of our Armed Forces, while we perform, along with our brothers, our legitimate, patriotic, national and human duty through extending help to the sisterly Yemeni people, who were attacked by the forces of oppression and aggression, and face the impending dangers that target the Arab existence and threaten the security and stability of our region and its people.

By our participation in the Operations Decisive Storm, Restoring Hope, and the International Alliance to Fight Terrorism, we again reaffirm our constant political principles of supporting the truth and working with our brothers to establish and maintain the security and peace of our region and the Arab world.

I am optimistic that the widening areas of joint Arab action will strengthen our hopes and efforts aimed at the establishment of a strong and cohesive Arab structure that makes the collective security system effective and protects Arab communities from any threats to their interests and existence.

While I follow proudly the performance of our officers and soldiers in battlefields, I recall the 39 year march which culminated in our Armed Forces having a high degree of operational readiness and efficiency.

The building of our Armed Forces was the most important chapter of our great national epic which we wrote in an ink of faith, will, insight, persistent work and the unlimited generosity of leaders who were keen to achieve progress and the development of their nation; to maintain its sovereignty, security and stability; and to secure the best quality of life for its citizens. This national epic occupies an important place in the narrative of our modern history, which abounds with stories of the progress of our people, state, community, prosperity, economy and institutions.

With the May 6, 1976 Resolution, our founding fathers reinforced their historic project of establishing the UAE and complemented with this resolution, the most important sovereign cornerstone of the State. It helps to consolidate the other cornerstones and foundations of the State, deepen national unity, support national identity with additional strengthening elements, and provide an invincible protection umbrella for our country’s resources and community achievements.

 The building of our Armed Forces has been at the heart of the process of building the state and society: It has interacted with this process, contributed to it with achievements and progress, adding to it its successful model of preparation and equipping of national human resources and learning the language of the modern age with all its achievements, sciences, state-of-the-art technology and inventions.

Dear officers, soldiers, ladies and gentlemen

As such, our celebration today of the decision of the Unification of the Armed Forces is a celebration of the will of a nation which has chosen to make its future with the hands of its men. It is also a celebration of the nation's awareness of the demands for making the future and the best ways to secure these demands. The unification and building of our Armed Forces have been an outstanding embodiment of this will.

Today the heritage of our father, our inspirer and immortal icon, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, grows greater in our hearts. His vision which he put forth thirty nine years ago for building modern and capable armed forces has been realised by his sons and citizens on the ground. Our armed forces now enjoy a stately presence and power. They protect the nation, maintain its independence and sovereignty, spread security and stability on its land, and perform the tasks assigned to them in the best manner. Our national military cadres are the model of belonging, affinity, values, efficiency and capability. Our military industries provide part of our armament needs, support the plans for strengthening development and diversifying the economy, and help actively in building up generations of experts and technicians in advanced technologies and highly developed industries.

Dear Officers and Soldiers
Dear Citizens

Being so proud of our Armed Forces, the shield and strength of our nation, we extend our thanks and gratitude to the great men who worked with the Founding Father, led the march after his departure to the abode of eternity, and shouldered the responsibility of realising the objectives of his vision. They have been led by my brother, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President and the Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and his helping hand, my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa has supported the building process of our Armed Forces since its inception. He supervised the planning and implementation of their organisation, armament and establishment of their national cadres. He also provided all requirements that enabled them to develop into a modern military. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on the other hand, has been the enlightened mind who led in the field the development and modernisation of our Armed Forces. Since his graduation from Sandhurst Military College thirty five years ago, he has been living with his officers and soldiers, leading them and adding to his commanding skills rich experience that has been accumulated throughout his graduation, up to the command of the Air Force and Air Defence, Chief of Staff and Deputy Supreme Commander.

Dear Officers and Soldiers,
Dear Citizens,

While proceeding with our country toward the future, we feel more confident and capable, putting our trust in  Almighty God and depending on the physical and mental abilities of our national sons and daughters. Our Armed Forces will remain subject to our attention and care, and the development of their capabilities will be at the top of our national priorities. That is because our self-empowerment is the key to the security, peace and stability of our nation and sustainable development and progress. Without providing the means for self-empowerment, there is no use of talking about peaceful co-existence, good neighbourliness, and solving problems through dialogue.

With all the concerns, instability, violence and terrorism with which our region abounds, and in view of the dangers that threaten people, all of us - government, community, Armed Forces and security agencies – have to be always on the alert, as well as confident in our ability to face all potential dangers, relying – after God – on our own power with all its elements, including solidarity of our people with their leadership, unity and strength of our community, the worthiness of our principles and policies, the efficiency of our public institutions, the readiness of our Armed Forces and security organisations, strength of our economy, our mature network of relations with sisterly and friendly countries, our positive interaction with the variables in our world, and our constant emphasis on truth, justice and helping the weak and the wronged.

Dear Officers and Soldiers
Dear Citizens

Every year, the sixth of May refreshes our memory with glittering pages in the march of building of our nation. The achievements and successes of this march provide us with additional positive energy that hones our spirits, strengthens our determination, motivates us to take the initiative and innovate, makes us more confident of the worthiness of our policies and approach in directing our public affairs, and boosts our trust in the future and our ability to achieve our great goals, so that our flag should be always flying and our rise in the path of progress is rapid and firm.

On the occasion of our Armed Forces Unification Anniversary, I present my congratulations to my brother, the  President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, my brother, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and my brothers, Their Highnesses Members of the Federal Supreme Council, may Allah protect them all and bless their lives and deeds.

I also extend my congratulations to every citizen, all officers and soldiers of the Armed Forces, their colleagues in the police and security organisations, and their brothers who preceded them in military service.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, who guided us with His guidance and the way of His prophet. We pray to Him to guide our steps in the right path, to lead us to what pleases Him, and to perpetuate our security and safety.

Mohammed bin Rashid to patronise a ceremony unveiling details about UAE's mission to Mars

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will patronise tomorrow a ceremony unveiling the technical details of the UAE's exploratory mission to Mars.

During the ceremony, the UAE will unveil for the first time scientific information and logistical details regarding the first Arab project to planet Mars. They will include details of the unmanned UAE probe, scientific objectives, research studies to be conducted on the planet, data to be sent, and the team working on the project.

Mohammed bin Rashid issues Law on practicing economic activities in Dubai

In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai,  Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued Law No (14) of 2015 partially amending Law No  (13) of 2011 on the organisation and regulation of economic activities in Dubai and referred to hereafter as the Original Law.

The new Law amended Articles No. (4), (6), (19) and (31) of the Original Law which include the authorities and responsibilities of Dubai’s Department of Economic Development, licensing, establishment’s obligations and settlements by conciliation.

The new Law defined the authorities and responsibilities of Dubai’s Department of Economic Development to include: establishing the rules and regulations for licensing, registering and listing businesses in the commercial register, organising and regulating economic activities in Dubai including retail sector.

Further, Dubai’s Department of Economic Development is responsible for describing and classifying economic activities according to the world’s most advanced systems, issuing commercial permits for advertising and marketing activities, regulating working hours for businesses and attestation of companies’ article of association and their amendments, duly.

The Law also authorizes Dubai’s Department of Economic Development to establish, operate, oversee and enforce an electronic system to measure sales volume. Dubai’s Department of Economic Development is also competent to inspect violation of intellectual property rights, combat commercial fraud, manage trademarks and protection of trademarks, consumer protection and monitor and inspect commercial entities including retail outlets to insure abidance to applied laws and licensing terms and conditions.

Article (6) of the Law stipulates that no natural or moral person may practice economic activity in the emirate of Dubai unless though a duly registered establishment and after obtaining a licence from Dubai’s Department of Economic Development and the Department.

The Law also prescribed the commercial establishment’s obligations to include: abidance to all laws, rules, regulations and resolutions applied in the emirate of Dubai, informing the Department within ten days about any change, update or amendment occurs in the establishment’s information or legal documents submitted upon registration, using the commercial name approved on the establishment’s license in all business transactions and enabling the Department’s employees to enter the establishment’s facilities, review its records and perform his legal duties.

The Law also obliges the establishments to submit any data, information and/or statistics to Dubai’s Department of Economic Development upon request, declare and register its selective country of origin and abide to the Department’s decisions on violations within the period of time granted.

Pursuant to Article (31) of the Law, Dubai’s Department of Economic Development may enter settlements by conciliation with the violating establishment conditionally the establishment submits a request for settlement within six months from the date of violation, discharges 50 per cent of the fine due and enjoys a one-year clear record of similar violations starting from the date committing the violation subject to the settlement. The establishment must abide to the settlement’s terms and conditions within the period specified by Dubai’s Department of Economic Development otherwise the settlement is considered null.

This Law annuls any other legislation that contradicts or challenges its provisions. The Law is to be published in the Official gazette and considered valid from the date of publication.

Mohammed bin Rashid arrives in Riyadh heading UAE delegation to GCC Consultative Summit

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his accompanying delegation on Tuesday arrived in Riyadh to attend the 15th consultative meeting of the GCC leaders.

Sheikh Mohammed was greeted by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Crown Prince, second Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defense, a number of princes, ministers, and military persons.

King Salman bin Abdulaziz  wished Sheikh Mohammed and his accompanying delegation, which included Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior,  Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy National Security Advisor, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, a pleasant stay in Saudi Arabia.

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