VP, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, Rulers of Emirates attend Commemoration Day event in Abu Dhabi

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members the Rulers of the UAE, and Their Highnesses the Crown Princes and the Deputy Rulers, attended a Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama in Abu Dhabi - the national landmark built to immortalise the sacrifices of the brave heroes of the UAE.

Among those who attended the event were H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah, H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President's Representative, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras al-Khaimah, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council (FNC), H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler`s Representative in the Al Ain Region, H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.H. Sheikh Omar bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs (ZHO), H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Executive Council Member, H.H. Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance.

Others in attendance included Sheikh Abdallah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the Forum for Promoting Peace in Muslim Societies, along with several Sheikhs, ministers, and members of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, as well as high-ranking commanders of the UAE Armed Forces, the Ministry of Interior and the Police. The ceremony was also attended by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Supreme Council for National Security and the Federal National Council, as well as by ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps in the country, the families and parents of the martyrs, and many of the country’s senior officials and representatives of media organisations.

The official Commemoration Day ceremony began with the arrival of the leaders at Wahat Al Karama. Their Highnesses the Sheikhs then headed to the Memorial while military music was played, followed by the firing of 21 artillery rounds. Their Highnesses placed flowers at the front of The Memorial to express their gratitude for the sacrifice of country’s martyrs. The UAE national anthem was then played, and a number of UAE Air Force planes flew above Wahat Al Karama's Memorial.

Major General Saleh Mohammed Saleh Mejren Al Ameri, Commander of the Land Forces, delivered the opening speech on behalf of the martyrs’ families, in which he stressed that celebrating Commemoration Day is a reminder to the public that the country’s current freedom and prosperity are due to the sacrifice of its martyrs. "If we want our life and the life and future of our children and grandchildren to be safe and assured, then we should offer our own sacrifices," he added.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, and Their Highnesses the Rulers of the UAE, then honoured the parents of the country’s 28 martyrs by awarding them the "Martyr's Medal," in appreciation and pride for their sacrifice and giving while performing their national duty.

During the event, the two leaders opened Wahet Al Karama Vistors's Centre, a main point of welcome, where visitors can live an interactive experience that tells the story of the UAE’s heroes and memorial.

Wahat Al Karama, Arabic for Oasis of Dignity, is located opposite the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and covers an area of more than 46,000 square meters. It truly embodies the unity and solidarity between leadership and citizens. It took 7 months to complete this massive memorial made of 31 aluminum tablets. A water feature flows among the Memorial’s panels.

The tablets, which are formed from over 1,000 cast aluminum panels, are inscribed with a series of poems and quotations by the UAE’s Founding Father, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan; President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan , the President of the UAE; the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

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