UAE leaders have established a special relationship with their people based on strong dedication and allegiance to the homeland rather than on political ideologies, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice- President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was quoted as saying on Sunday.
Sheikh Mohammed, in remarks published in the Sharjah-based Arabic language daily Al Khaleej, was commenting on current tours of various UAE areas by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
He said such visits are in line with policies followed by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is keen to follow the example of “our predecessors in interacting with our people and reaching them in all areas of the country.”
“The real leader is the one who feels the pulse of his people and I believe that in this respect, my brother Sheikh Mohammed is one of few leaders who meet their people like brothers.
“These tours will support the open-door policy adopted by the rulers and constitute a strong basis for interacting with all people of all ages,” he said.
“Here in the UAE, the relationship between the leadership and the citizens is special and exceptional. It is based on allegiance and affiliation to the homeland and the leadership.
“It has come by instinct rather than belonging to parties or political ideologies. I believe that the success of the leaders and the officials in the UAE can be judged by what has been achieved in the smallest village in our country.”
He said Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed’s tours “through the UAE’s east to west and north to south” show he is following the steps of his late father, who had done his best to “please his people and achieve all their aspirations.”
“These tours constitute a major factor in strengthening the people’s allegiance and love of their homeland and this will further bolster the union and the development process, to which the leadership has devoted all resources to turn it into an example to be followed not only in the Arab region but the entire world.”
Sheikh Mohammed noted that late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum had been keen to adopt an open-door policy and to meet citizens at their homes by visiting their towns and villages to attend to their needs.
“This approach has been fully followed by the present leaders because they consider the citizen to be on top of their priorities,” he added.