Inspiration basis of the UAE growth
dubai — Inspiration has been the backbone of UAE Government since its inception and continues to lead the country forward, a senior official has said.
In the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, the Dubai Forum for Best Government Practices celebrated inspirational government and personal initiatives, while inviting international speakers to share experience and knowledge.
Lt-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, the head of general security in Dubai, said the UAE keeps moving forward due to its leaders, starting from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan — who inspired the world by the union.
“People predicted that the union will not last, but days proved that the strong foundation Sheikh Zayed laid inspired citizens to keep working for it,” said Dhahi Khalfan.
“Forty years later, we are talking 10X. That’s because we have inspiring leaders who influence people’s behaviour and motivate them to work with high discipline, commitment and persistence,” pointed out Dhahi Khalfan.
He added that while Dubai was on the verge of an economic struggle, leaders stepped out and formed an emirate that pumped billions into its economy. Dhahi Khalfan said these are indicators of leaders who have vision of the future.
With the country making strides in empowering women and forming a strong infrastructure that has become an international reference, Dhahi Khalfan said integrating ethics with politics was key success factor of the UAE.
“Let’s not forget the national iden- tity formed by the UAE founder that united all citizens under one goal and created generations of inspiring leaders,” said Dhahi Khalfan.
‘Practise game of the impossible’
Among the inspiring success stories the two-day forum featured was the one of Idris Jala, former minister in the prime minister’s department in Malaysia.
The diplomat moved from a poor village in Malaysia to becoming a minister whose administration pumped $406 billion in private sector investments to create over three million jobs between 2011-2020.
He said for any government to succeed, leaders must practise game of the impossible and set targets the average human wouldn’t believe reachable. “Dubai created something out of nothing, because its leaders set goals that the average human being would think is impossible to achieve,” said Jala, who’s also on the advisory panel for World Economic Forum and the World Bank.
Governments or organisations pursuing this game need to have leaders who visualise the future and manage the present from the future. However, they also have to conquer the fear of failure.
Let’s not forget the national identity formed by UAE founder that united all citizens under one goal and created generations of inspiring leaders.” Lt-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, head of general security in Dubai
“It is sad that 90 per cent of people will die without achieving their full potential, due to their fear of failure,” said Jala.
Speaking during the forum, Iraqi Hisham Al Dahabi, who was among five Arab Hope Makers awarded in May for dedicating their lives to serving people, said he will use the
Dubai created something out of nothing, because its leaders set goals that the average human being would think is impossible to achieve.” Idris Jala, former minister in the prime minister’s department in Malaysia
Dh1 million to build the biggest orphanage in Baghdad.
Al Dahabi’s house is the Iraqi Safe House for Creativity, a private, non-government funded orphanage, where the 46-year-old lives with over 30 orphans and street children and educates them. “My work had been in the shade
My work had been in the shade for over 10 years until I saw these kids grow up to become the people they are today.” Hisham Al Dahabi, Arab Hope Maker winner
for over 10 years until I saw these kids grow up to become the people they are today,” said Al Dahabi.
In its fourth edition, the forum seeks to motivate administrators and officials to enact initiatives that will place Dubai among the world’s most innovative cities.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com