'It is nothing but love': Why UAE residents say signing the UAE Pledge and Commitment initiative felt personal

Dubai: There are some feelings that are hard to describe in words – an unshakeable sense that you are safe, no matter the circumstances. For many UAE residents who signed the UAE Pledge and Commitment initiative, this was a chance to express the gratitude they felt for that very sense of safety every single day.

The initiative, launched by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, allows members of the UAE community to express their appreciation for the leadership of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his role in strengthening national security, social cohesion and stability.

Residents who spoke to Emirates 24|7 said the pledge resonated because it reflected experiences they had lived themselves, whether arriving in the UAE recently, raising families here, building businesses, or spending their entire lives in the country.

For 24-year-old Lebanese expatriate Sherine Bou Saada, who moved to the UAE just two years ago, the country quickly became much more than a place of work.

“I moved to the UAE in 2024, and in a remarkably short time, it became much more than a place to live, it became home. Home is where your heart finds purpose, and for me, the UAE is where dreams I once thought were out of reach became reality," she said.

For Sherine, who works as a Human Resources Business Partner in Dubai, that ‘UAE feeling’ hit hard during a simple, quiet moment.

“It happened late one evening after work. As I drove through Dubai’s brightly lit streets, I realised I felt something I hadn’t felt before: complete peace of mind. Knowing I was living in one of the safest places in the world, while building a future filled with opportunity and ambition, was incredibly powerful. In that moment, I wasn't just living in the UAE, I was growing with it,” she said.

Kazakh resident Almas Nyssanbay said signing the pledge was his way of expressing gratitude to the country and its leadership.

"To be honest, it is just 100 per cent respect and gratitude to be here," he said.

"When I saw this initiative, it felt like it was also my way to give back. Even though it is a small gesture, for me it is very meaningful."

He spoke about even coming to the UAE was quite symbolic for him, as he moved to the country with his family on December 2, 2022 – the UAE’s Union Day.

Today, living in Dubai with his wife and three children, he said the safety the country offers is one of the most valuable things for him.

“Safety first of all is most important but then we also have such a multicultural community, with people from across the world, living peacefully.”

He said the recent regional tensions further reinforced his confidence in living in the UAE.

"It just was further proof for me that we were in the right place – the safest place in the world. Because even though there were tensions, nothing stopped working in the UAE – the banks were open, the delivery riders were always working, construction was continuing and businesses were operating. Life was normal. In fact, I started sharing videos of our life in Dubai to show to the world just how safe it was,” the 35-year-old Private Office Advisor, who works in the real estate sector, said.

British entrepreneur Angela Gegg, who has lived in Dubai for 15 years and runs a boutique real estate agency, also spoke about how she immediately signed the pledge when she came across it.

"I sent it to all my staff in my company, even signed my company up. I went all out on it," she said.

Gegg said the UAE had given her opportunities she believes would have been difficult to access elsewhere.

"I am very vocal about how grateful I am to this country. For a fact, I would not have had the kind of opportunities I've had here if I was anywhere else in the world," she said.

As a female business owner, she said the UAE has created an environment where ambition and hard work are rewarded.

"It is literally a land of opportunities, but you have to work hard for it," she said.

"There is a misconception among people who haven't lived here that things get handed to you, which is just not true."

She also pointed to the strong sense of community she has experienced over the years.

"People who really live here, we all really want to help each other. Your car breaks down on the highway, 10 people will stop to assist you," she said.

For Gegg, the widespread response to the pledge reflects that deeper feeling of belonging and community shared by many residents.

"We have such a sense of pride and love for this country. I love how much unity we have here. Here, our government actually loves us and they want to make sure we're okay. That doesn't happen anywhere. There's pride and appreciation here. It is nothing but love."

For 30-year-old Indian expatriate Imran Khan, who was born and raised in the UAE, there really is no other place he calls home except the UAE.

"I consider the UAE to be my main base. This is never going to disappear from my history or my future."

Khan said travelling abroad often reinforced that feeling of appreciation for his life in the UAE.

"When you go to any other country, the first thing that comes out of my mouth is, 'Well, that’s in Dubai as well'," he said with a laugh.

His parents first arrived in the UAE more than four decades ago and continue to live here, a testament to how he says the country offers everyone a chance to live and grow.

“Living in the UAE, you realise that it gives you the opportunity to grow and develop yourself. No matter whether you earn AED100 or AED100,000, everyone is taken care of and has the opportunity to grow."

Coming from a middle-class family, he said he witnessed firsthand how hard work and determination can open doors.

"All the doors were open for me. I just had to explore them. We always got the chance, and if we took it, it really paid off," he said.