‘In the UAE, wherever you are, you’re safe’: Why residents say signing the UAE Pledge and Commitment initiative was a natural choice

Dubai: Ask residents why they chose to sign the UAE's Pledge and Commitment initiative and three words come up repeatedly: safety, belonging and gratitude.

While some speak of the UAE Pledge giving them a chance to thank a country that helped them build a life, for others, it is a way to reaffirm their commitment to the UAE’s values.

The initiative, launched by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, gives residents an opportunity to express their appreciation for the leadership of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the values that have helped shape the nation.

For 56-year-old Emirati Samar Karam, signing the pledge was a personal commitment to the principles that have defined the country’s success.

“As an Emirati intercultural consultant, I believe the UAE has evolved beyond the idea of simply coexisting. It has created a model where people from different backgrounds can truly belong while contributing to the nation’s growth and shared future, and I am proud to be part of this remarkable journey to reaffirm my commitment to the UAE and its values,” she said.

Ahmed Ali Nalwala, a St. Kitts and Nevis national, who has lived in the UAE for 30 years, said signing the pledge felt like a moral duty to show his commitment to the country.

While he spoke about how long-time UAE residents always felt safe in the country, recent events, he said, had brought forth a new sentiment.

“What has been a game changer is the mindset that we have seen in terms of governance and the commitment to the expat population by the nation’s Rulers. That, I thought, was quite moving. The statements made by UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, that in the UAE everyone is an Emirati, and the way we saw the civil services react to any emergency gave us the confidence that we are in the right place,” he said.

Nalwala, who runs a manufacturing business in Dubai, said that he has been witness to the tremendous growth the UAE has undergone.

“In every sphere of my life, whether personal, professional or social, I have seen these massive changes so smoothly incorporated into our lives. Even though the changes were big, they were never abrupt – it has evolved in such a harmonious way,” he added.

Tuhin Sengupta, a 42-year-old regional director working in the healthcare industry, said that signing the pledge was his way of showing his appreciation for the country that has given him a chance to grow.

He spoke about how UAE businesses continued growing, even during the recent regional tensions, simply because people and businesses had confidence in the country’s leadership.

“I remember receiving a call from my mum, who was worried about what was happening. All I had to do was turn on the video and show her Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa, where everyone was walking around safely,” the Indian national said.

Living in the UAE with his wife and seven-year-old daughter, Sengupta said the biggest factor in choosing to stay in the UAE was the aspect of safety.

“I’ve lived in many parts of the world, and the safety here is just tremendous. I can work peacefully in my office and my wife and daughter could be going to the mall, or anywhere at all, and I don’t have to worry about their safety, or keep checking in on them. Because in the UAE, wherever you are, you’re safe,” he said.