United Arab Emirates Celebrates 40th National Day

President H.H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on occasion of the 40th National Day said the UAE has made remarkable achievements that have catapulted it to the ranks of advanced nations, thanks to the sincere and tireless efforts spearheaded by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his fellow founding fathers.

Addressing the nation on the UAE’s 40th national day, Sheikh Khalifa greeted Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of Emirates, for their support, and for the care they give to the progress of the Union, protecting the country, defending its gains and meeting the aspirations of its people.

He said that over the last 40 years, the State has directed all its efforts to serve its citizens, and it has invested all of its resources and energies in the building of a federal, pioneering modern state in which the values of solidarity, coherence and unity have been deepened, the concepts of work, dedication and participation have been promoted, and in which the sense of belonging and pride in the achievements of the glorious federal march has been upheld.

UAE Vice President

UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has said that sound vision, long term determination and indomitable will have helped the UAE to attain the excellence and leadership in various fields.  In a statement on the occasion of the UAE’s 40th National Day Anniversary, he added that since the dawn of the second of December, 1971, the wheel of development outlined by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the UAE people, had not stopped, since it is continued and sustained by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE people.

Sheikh Mohammed stressed that as the UAE exhibits its success story that has impressed the world in terms of the achievements, the UAE people are working to build bridges with other peoples worldwide, out of their conviction in the importance of human relations among States and peoples, and their collective roles in the achievement of peace, justice and equality for all peoples worldwide.

Rulers Address the Nations

Their Highnesses Members of Supreme Council, Rulers of Emirates, have highlighted the essence of Union and achievements attained by the UAE over the last four decades.  They paid a glowing tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and other founding fathers of the Union, who made the dream come true, citing the prestigious status attained by the country as a result of the Union and strenuous work.

They greeted the current UAE leadership under President H.H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Rulers of Emirates for keeping the candle of Union burning.

Renewable Energy

UAE’s global leadership in renewable energy initiatives and projects was evident in the selection of the country’s capital to host headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), hosting of the World Future Energy Summit and the launch of the US$ 2.2 million Zayed Future Energy Prize.

The fourth World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2011 concluded in Abu Dhabi following four days of high level summit debate from international leaders and experts, and two exhibitions showcasing the latest technologies and innovations in renewable energy and environment.

Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Summit formed a unique business platform aiding the global development and commercialisation of renewable energy solutions.

“The UAE is making considerable efforts to find solutions to the world’s energy challenges, in particular through the Masdar initiative and the World Future Energy Summit, which provides a platform for global cooperation in renewable energy and sustainability,” said Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General, United Nations.

“I want my country to know how advanced you are in pursuing clean renewable energy. I want the world to know that the US is partnering with you because we are betting on Abu Dhabi and the UAE,” said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

UAE led by Khalifa moves towards building stronger Union

H. H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, stressed that the UAE under leadership of President H.H Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has been building the UAE Union based on its own and other experiences.

He added that “Our celebration of the 40th national day anniversary reflects the depth of the UAE Union’s experience that moves it to the advanced countries and achieve welfare of its citizens”.

Sheikh Abdullah was speaking last month at Yas Viceroy Hotel at Yas Island in a meeting with 100 journalists from 43 countries, who are visiting the country upon invitation by National Media Council (NMC). The event was organised by NMC.

Celebration

On 2nd December 2011, the United Arab Emirates celebrated its fortieth National Day, completing four decades since the establishment of the state in 1971. Not surprisingly, the occasion is being marked with celebrations throughout the seven component emirates of the federation, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ra’s al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah.

Located in the south-east corner of the Arabian peninsula, the seven emirates, formerly known as the ‘Trucial States’, were in treaty relations with Britain for 150 years. With the announcement by the British that they would be withdrawing from the region in 1971, the rulers of the emirates, led by the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, decided to form a federation, to work together to bring prosperity and development to their people. Aided by the vision of Sheikh Zayed, who believed that the revenues from the oil and gas resources of his own emirate, Abu Dhabi, should be put to use in the service of the inhabitants of the country as a whole, the UAE has subsequently emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most stable countries in the Middle East region.

Sheikh Zayed died in 2004, after over thirty years as President. The process of growth, however, has continued under the leadership of his son and successor as President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, their fellow members of the UAE’s Supreme Council of Rulers and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Despite the vicissitudes of the global economy in recent years, the programme of development is still firmly under way.

Guiding Principles

The guiding principles that underlie the success of the state, originally laid down forty years ago, remain fundamental elements in the policies of the UAE’s Government.

One was that the resources deriving from Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas should be shared across the country in the development of its infrastructure.

A second was that, as Sheikh Zayed put it, ‘the country’s real wealth is its people’, and that, in consequence, particular effort should be made to ensure that they should benefit from the best available access to education, health care and social services, to equip them, both men and women, to play their full part in the country’s growth, evidence of the country’s success in empowering its women.

A third principle, in recognition of the fact that the UAE was a country that would attract people of many nationalities, was that it should be a country where a spirit of tolerance between those of different communities and faiths should prevail, yet one where its own national culture and heritage should be both cherished and protected. Although firmly committed to the Islamic faith of its citizens, the UAE is now home to over 40 churches and cathedrals as well as to places of worship for other faiths.

And the fourth principle, looking outside the country, was that the UAE was to seek to promote dialogue, co-operation and the resolution of conflicts, both within the Arab world and the broader Islamic community and within the wider international community.