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29 March 2024

UAE has delivered its developmental goals: General Mohammed

General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Published
By Wam

General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said the UAE has made resounding success in achieving its development goals in various sectors and is bracing to take the Union to advanced standards of progress, stability and prosperity.

He hailed the December 2 as a glorious day in UAE history, which holds a special place and significance "in our hearts" given its deep, far-reaching emotional and patriotic values.

"On the 42nd anniversary of the Union, we reflect on its grand structure and remember the founding fathers, led by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan whose faithful efforts and insightful thoughts to realise his deep historic conviction of establishing a federal state brought all people of our beloved country together in a unique developmental experiment that set a role model for building of nations," General Mohammed said, referring to the shining pages of the UAE's history.

"Throughout the past 42 years, the Emirati people have always been, and still are at the heart of development plans, policies and efforts, whether in the founding phase led by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, or through the continuous drive for development and giving in the empowerment phase, launched by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, within a transparent, well-established vision that envisages the Emirati citizens as the true wealth and feasible investment for the future of the UAE, he said in a statement to ''Dira'a Al Watan'' magazine on the occasion of the 42nd National Day.

"From this point," he continued, "The UAE's wise leadership saw the necessity to dedicate and mobilise all resources and assets for the benefit of citizens, improving their living standards, preserving their gains and maintaining their welfare. These efforts were crowned by the high rankings the UAE has achieved in recognised international indices and reports for human development, social welfare, security and stability.

"We, on the anniversary of this spectacular day and as every day, renew the spirit of deep belonging and loyalty that lives in the hearts of all our people. We are proud of what we have achieved in the past and we are looking forward to a promising future where we realise our ambitions for a nation that takes its top place among advanced countries in terms of various fields and sectors of development.

"These historic days give all of us a renewed patriotic spirit to pursue the drive towards development, giving, welfare, building and modernisation. For our future ambitions, the sky is the limit and we will go ahead unabated, knowing no limits. The achievements made by UAE citizens over the decades of the Union's age speak volumes for the depth and strength of will for building the excellence of our State. It is the same determination that guards our federal experiment against any threat," General Mohamed emphasised.

"The UAE has succeeded in achieving its development goals in various sectors and has completed construction of a coherent Union which has jumped to the ranks of the most advanced and prosperous nations and opened up new and promising development in several areas where our country has become a global hub in vital sectors of global concern, such as increasing renewable and clean energy, and opened itself to broad horizons in the areas of health and education, welcoming in the areas of development, reconstruction and urban planning. As well as avoiding the effects of the global financial crisis, which has threatened the economies of most developed countries.

"And we go with confidence to further engage in the global economy and benefit from it, as it provided investment opportunities that enhance our nation's ability to meet the aspirations of our citizens in various fields.

"The UAE also recorded notable successes in foreign policy and international relations, where diplomacy has become more effective. Our diplomacy has several areas of movement aimed at achieving our interests and our goals and serving our citizens at home and abroad. Perhaps this day is a historical stage to confirm that our foreign policy has been, still is, and will remain, of importance to achieving security and stability at regional and global levels. As well as re-affirming need for international cooperation in the face of daunting challenges the world is witnessing, such as poverty, ignorance, disease and unemployment.

"We, on this historic day, send all our greetings and appreciation to the people of our country, appreciating their deep sense of belonging to this land and their loyalty to our wise leadership. We also extend our greetings and appreciation to all the institutions of this country in the various fields of work and production, and we thank the employees of the military establishments, which have become a paragon of efficiency and competence which makes them the subject of national pride and a source of contentment as a genuine protective shield for our development. Our thanks go also to the police and security services that operate day and night in order to maintain security and safety throughout this beloved country.

"Dear Citizens, our people in Ras Al-Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and those in the Eastern and Western regions of our beloved country, we remember our ancestors, entrenched in building our civilization, our place in history, on this land.

“Here we do not just mean our ancestors who contributed to the features of the building and the future of their grandchildren when they gathered in the courtyards of the Al Hosn Palace in Abu Dhabi 250 years ago, nor those who were gathered in the capital, Liwa, nearly 400 years ago, before building Abu Dhabi city. We mean those who were thinking about the future of the descendants of their grandchildren. The common history of all the emirates in the UAE is all rooted in history, and we tell you, that we have a history dating back thousands of years.

“We emphasise these facts because we are one family over the soil of this country from Fujairah to Sila, a remote city at the far western end of our beloved country,” General Mohammed said.

"We are brothers and sisters, moving today and every day with a steady and confident pace in the areas of sustainable development, so as to reap the fruit of these efforts by the UAE people now, tomorrow and in the future, and in particular that the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, emphasises the priorities of the citizen, empowering, progressing and ensuring his well-being in all areas. These areas are at the forefront of our priorities, especially in the strategic plans of the UAE's vision for the future, and in particular that human beings will continue to be the objective and the purpose in our strategic plans, as well as strengthening and maintaining national stability, and the consolidation of unity between the sons of the nation in their united home, more and more adhering to the principles of our constitution in preserving the rights and protection of freedoms and respect for the law.

"But today, dear brothers and sisters, we are also invited to shoulder other responsibilities of great importance leading in the future, that we endeavour to complete the process of construction, and these responsibilities require more effort, perseverance and will, especially in the field of creation and innovation. At the forefront of these responsibilities, empowering our people through a knowledge-based economy will be the main engine for sustainable development in the future. As you all know, the wise leadership of the country has been keen to diversify sources of income for the country, and at the same time maintain the national wealth for the benefit of future generations, in order to provide the opportunity for other sources of non-oil wealth to be given the greater share of the GDP.

"Dear brothers and sisters, the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan will never neglect the importance that the UAE attaches to shouldering its national and historical responsibilities and its Arab, regional and international role, as well as its humanitarian role in everything that contributes to laying the foundations of development, security, stability and peace in the entire region, and all over the world.

"The UAE also recognises its role in counter-terrorism in all its forms, trends and types, whether it's the kind that depends on spreading a culture of violence, destruction as a means and a goal for it, or the one that depends on terrorism of thought and seeks to impose a creed of intellectual, ideological and sectarian terrorism on others by force, violence, exclusion or the refusal to engage in dialogue and consider other opinions, with the aim of personal and factional domination at the expense of the goals and the higher interests of the people.

"The developments experienced by the region and the political and security changes taking place in the world, make it imperative for all our countries to strengthen efforts, unify visions and adopt strategies consistent with these variables and challenges in order to achieve regional and international stability, security and peace, as well as promote development and stability for the peoples of the world.

"While we are celebrating our 42nd National Day, we all feel extreme joy and pleasure that this year's National Day coincides with the selection of Dubai as host of the 2020 World Expo.

"On this glorious day, we all have to renew our confidence in, and our loyalty to, President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we pledge to do everything to achieve the hopes of our people in having a prosperous and decent life, asking Allah Almighty to keep Sheikh Khalifa safe, and for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses The Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, and the Emirati people; may Allah help us all in serving our beloved country."