His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has paid a rich tribute to the valiant UAE Armed Forces, assuring that they have the unlimited and unconditional support of the UAE’s leadership.

He underlined that they defend the country, safeguard the security of the Gulf, and combat the evil forces of terrorism and extremism.

“I salute our officers and soldiers for defending our homeland, and I salute our forces in Yemen, where they stand on the right side of history and sacrifice their lives to defend our brothers and sisters in Yemen, and to safeguard the country’s deep-rooted Arab identity and heritage,” Sheikh Mohammad said.

The following is Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed’s full statement on the occasion of Unification Day:

“Brothers and Sisters, Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Soldiers, members of our valiant Armed Forces,

It gives me a great pleasure on this auspicious day to congratulate you on the 41st Unification Day of the Armed Forces, which we have observed every 6th of May since 1976.

As we celebrate this great occasion together, it’s important that each member of our valiant Armed Forces knows as a matter of fact that he has the unlimited and unconditional support of the UAE’s leadership. It goes without saying that our leadership appreciates your heroic actions in defending our country, safeguarding the security of the Gulf and combating the evil forces of terrorism and extremism.

It’s also my pleasure to congratulate on this great occasion President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Supreme Council Members, Their Highnesses Rulers of Emirates and the people of the UAE.

Brothers and Sisters,

It’s at such occasions that we are allowed to indulge ourselves in self-praise and we truly congratulate ourselves for the extraordinary achievements of our Armed Forces, including their great efficiency and constant readiness.

On this dear occasion, which is dear not only to the people of the UAE but also to the Arab peoples in general, I salute our officers and soldiers for defending our homeland. I salute our forces in Yemen, where they stand on the right side of history and sacrifice their lives to defend our brothers and sisters in Yemen, and to safeguard the country’s deep-rooted Arab identity and heritage. In doing so, they are cherishing the values of the UAE and the vision of our late father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the UAE. They also reflect our historical responsibility toward our people, our region and our extended Arab and Islamic nation.

By responding to the call of duty in Yemen, our soldiers are making history with their sweat and blood. They are indeed writing an untarnished page of human history because they are motivated by a duty to protect and support the oppressed and restore the stability and security.

On the 41st Unification Day, we pray to Allah to rest our martyrs in peace for their sacrifices who had heralded the beginning of an epic journey of victory and glory for our great nation. By giving up their lives, our martyrs made our homes safer and our lives better.

Make no mistake, we will stand in full force, body and soul behind our soldiers and their families. Every drop of blood that they spill in battle in defence of our nation and our values, in defence of the oppressed, is a mark of honour for all of us because that blood was spilled in the service of a right and just cause. These sacrifices make our job of maintaining a strong, capable and advanced Armed Forces harder than ever but also more worthwhile.

Brothers and Sisters,

As we celebrate this glorious day, our Armed Forces are witnessing major developments and giant leaps, thanks to the directives of our wise leadership and the dedication of the people of the UAE. Our Armed Forces have grown into a regional force to be reckoned with. They are well-trained and well-armed, with high morale. Their heroic actions in Yemen and their participation in the UN peacekeeping missions around the world have won them praise at home and abroad.

Let it be known that we will do whatever it takes to maximise the efficiency of our Armed Forces and to modernise them further over the coming years. We will achieve that by lending support to our already advanced defence industry, building the capacities of our people in the Armed Forces by providing them with state-of-the-art training at home and abroad, exchanging experiences by carrying out military exercises with regional and international militaries, and last but not least by supplying the Armed Forces with the latest and most advanced military hardware and technology. This will allow our forces to tackle different types of threats and engage in various battlefields at home and abroad.

Brothers and Sisters,

As our valiant Armed Forces carry out their duty at home and abroad to defend our country and its achievements, restore the regional stability and contribute to peacekeeping missions around the world. They have grown into a symbol of bravery, heroism, and become a source of hope and inspiration for our young people. Their loyalty to the country and leadership is second to none. It’s this undivided loyalty that earns them not only our respect and admiration but also the entire world’s awe.

Happy Unification Day, and may this day return to us one year after another with our Armed Forces yet stronger, and our country safer and more prosperous.”