'This is where we belong': Why these UAE residents signed on to the UAE Pledge and Commitment initiative

Dubai: It's the community. The community that welcomes people from across the world. One that treats everyone equally. And one that stands together through thick and thin. Many UAE residents who signed the UAE's Pledge and Commitment initiative said that it was that sense of community and stability that prompted them to sign the UAE's Pledge and Commitment initaitive. 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. 'I've never felt unsafe' For Laura Andia Aligula, a Kenyan marketing professional and graphic designer who has lived in the UAE for three and a half years, seeing the pledge being shared online got her curious. "It was trending online and I started looking it up. I even asked my friend at work and he explained that the pledge was about expressing our commitment and loyalty to the country,” she said. That immediately prompted her to sign the pledge, as Aligula said that in the years that she has lived in the UAE, she has never felt unsafe. "When I was looking for countries to move to, safety was one of the most important factors for me. People told me the UAE was safe and that I would not have to worry about anything. Even before I came here, I had confidence in that," she said. After moving to the country, she says, that feeling has only grown stronger. "Whenever I speak to my family and friends who are not living here, I always tell them about how safe the place is and how the country’s leadership makes sure that all the people live in good conditions. It makes me feel that I am in the right place,” she said. 'We are rooted to this place' For Eti Bhasin, a 30-year-old hotel executive who was born and raised in the UAE, signing the pledge felt natural. "I saw the initiative in the news and signed it about two weeks ago. To me, it just represents how we are all in this together – one voice and one nation," she said. Having seen the country’s evolution from childhood to today, she said that there is no other place she feels a sense of belonging to, and the UAE’s ability to bounce back stronger after every challenging situation has only made her commitment to the country stronger. Speaking about her family’s long history in the region, she added: "My father has spent more than 40 years in the GCC. Initially he was in Saudi Arabia and he then moved to the UAE. I was born here and there is no other place we associate with home. This is where we belong. We are rooted to this place and we have faith in the leadership." 'Life kept moving forward' Terri Matope, who works as a master of ceremonies and event host, has spent 16 years in the UAE and says the country has become an integral part of his identity. "I’ve spent over half my life here. My parents lived here, my brother is raising his children here, and it's the place I have called home for the longest time. The UAE has been a safe haven. It is where I built my career and where I have been able to create a life for myself,” he said. For the 32-year-old Zimbabwean, the country's response during difficult periods demonstrated the strength of both its leadership and its people. "It's been an interesting and challenging few months, but life has continued to move forward. If we were living elsewhere, things might have been very different." Drawing comparisons with the COVID-19 pandemic, he recalled the sense of reassurance residents felt. "There was always communication and a feeling that we would get through it together. We did that as a community then, and we continue to do that now," he said.