UAE Celebrates 45 Years of Progress and Prosperity
UAE Celebrates 45 Years of Progress and Prosperity
The UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is experiencing the strongest and most prosperous phase of all times, Rulers of the Emirates said in a meeting held at the Union House in Dubai on 2 December 2016.
Held in the same place where the founding fathers of the UAE met 45 years ago, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi of Sharjah, Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi of Ajman, Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi of Fujairah, Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla of Umm Al Quwain and Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi of Ras Al Khaimah renewed their pledge to the UAE people to continue tirelessly strengthening the union, declaring a new chapter in the UAE history where all governments work as one united team towards achieving the happiness of all Emiratis and consolidating the union.
Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed, alongside the Supreme Council Members, raised the UAE flag in the same place where the founding fathers hoisted it 45 years ago. The Rulers recommitted themselves to work hard to keep the flag high and teach the coming generations to maintain and defend it with everything they have.
Their Highnesses said that the UAE is ranked at the top regionally in several development indexes with more than 100 development indicators and competes the world by its powerhouse economy, services, state-of-the-art infrastructure and the happiness of its people.
Their Highnesses prayed to Allah to bless His Highness the President with continued good health and wellness, and to bless its people with greater development and progress so that the UAE remains a beacon of hope and optimism and a model for growth and efficiency
Their Highnesses said this meeting evoked the historical moments when the founding fathers signed the founding treaty in the same house.
The UAE’s aspirations have always been great and do not change by time. The principles and values on which the union is based remain firm and unchangeable even if the surrounding world has altered. “The spirt of union will always be our drive towards the best in everything,” the Rulers added.
Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed alongside the Supreme Council Members renewed their promise to the UAE people that the best is yet to come and the future will be more prosperous and flourishing. They also renewed their pledge that the UAE people will always be united under one constitution, one president, one flag and one capital.
They also expressed their pride in the Union House as it represents the legacy of the founding fathers, saying that the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s will enhances their spirt of the union.
The meeting touched on the UAE working mechanisms towards achieving the desired strategic goals and stressed that the federal and local governments are working as one united team and the people of the UAE are also working to shape one future. The leaders of the UAE will always be united, the Rulers underscored.
At the end of the meeting, the Rulers extended their thanks to all leaders and people who shared the UAE’s joy in its National Day celebrations.
‘We venerate the symbol of our union’
Raising the UAE flag at the Union House in Dubai on Friday, His Highness Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, said: “As we hoist the flag on the 45th UAE National Day, we glorify and venerate the symbol of our union which is dear to all Emiratis. We remember with complete gratitude and appreciation the union’s founders — Sheikh Zayed and his brothers Rulers of the Emirates who raised the flag for the first time at Union House on December 2, 1971, declaring to the entire world that the will of unity overpowered all challenges and difficulties, that a young nation is emerging in the Arabian Gulf, creating a new history in the region.”
He added that the UAE flag is also a symbol of development, advancement, happiness, co-existence, tolerance and openness.
The aptly named Union House witnessed the signing of the treaty establishing the first federal state in the Arab world, the UAE on 2 December 1971. This is where the UAE flag was first unveiled and raised for the first time to a 21-gun salute; though the 120-metre golden flagpole wasn’t constructed until 2001.
In 1968, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum decided to form an independent union between Abu Dhabi and Dubai and invited the other five states, as well as Qatar and Bahrain. Though Bahrain and Qatar chose separate independence, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah agreed.
On the afternoon of Thursday, 2 December 1971, Sheikh Zayed, Sheikh Rashid, Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, the then Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Rashid Bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, the then Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Hamad Al Sharqi, the then Ruler of Fujairah, and Sheikh Rashid Bin Ahmad Al Mualla, the then Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, met here to sign the declaration forming the union and elected Sheikh Zayed president of the newly formed nation.
Ras Al Khaimah joined in February 1972.
