Learn to share and make UAE No. 1: Sheikh Saif
Official recalls time he dropped his headgear on Sheikh Zayed
abu dhabi — Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, on Tuesday spoke to a crowd of nearly 3,000 Emirati youth, urging them to help the UAE leaders make the country number one in the world.
“The true wealth of the UAE is you,” Lt. Gen. Sheikh Saif told the crowd on the concluding day of Mohamed Bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations 2018 held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. He added that to become successful leaders, students must learn to share their opportunities with one another.
“This is something we find in the Emirati leadership — sharing ambitions with the people — this is what results being number one.”
“The theme of this year’s Majlis is very distinguished. It is about ambition, it is about the future, about imagination, engagement and building.
“There will be no failures, unless there is a reason. Nothing happens in life by coincidence. There is an equation for success and an equation for failure.”
“Do you ever wonder why Sheikh Mohamed always refers to you as his sons and daughters?” He asked the crowd. “It’s because we are a cohesive family, we are a united family, you are all brothers and sisters and you are all children of Zayed.”
He urged the students to thus better themselves, for the betterment of the nation.
“The love for your country, your religion and your faith will make you overcome obstacles in life.”
Lt-Gen Sheikh Saif told the students to make use of the technology and the abundance the UAE has to offer.
“You are the future — I believe that all passed generations shed their blood and tears to be who you are today.”
He said he is proud of the accomplishment of Emiratis, pointing out that 97 per cent carry high degrees. He pointed out that the UAE continues to climb the ladder in all aspects in life, in order to achieve its mission of becoming “number one,” including in humanitarian aid.
This includes the whopping contribution of more than Dh17 billion by the nation in just five years — making the UAE the world’s top donor country.
Live talk with KhalifaSat team
Lt-Gen Sheikh Saif also pointed out that with the space sector up its sleeves, the UAE has much to look forward to in the near future. He also made a conference call with the KhalifaSat team, who are currently in Japan, waiting for the launch of the UAE made and developed satellite, which will takeoff on October 20.
Amer Al Sayegh, KhalifaSat project manager at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC), spoke live from Japan to Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif and to the audience.
“The seed of this satellite was based on knowledge. Through learning and education we developed our capabilities in order to develop our own satellites.”
“We will continue to learn, in order to make the UAE number one.”
“This success would not have happened without this equation: An exceptional leadership, a positive community and cohesive society,” said Lt- Gen Sheikh Saif. “There are achievements by Emiratis happening worldwide,” he added. abu dhabi — A top official in Abu Dhabi has recalled how an ‘embarrassing moment’ with the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Father of Nation, turned into one of confidence. Speaking at the Mohamed Bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO, Mubadala Development Company and Member of the Executive Council of Abu Dhabi, said he dropped his agal (black rope used to fit the head scarf in place) on Sheikh Zayed during his very first meeting with him.
“I was just seven years old then and Sheikh Zayed was in a majlis with my grandfather. My grandfather told me to come and greet Sheikh Zayed. I was shy and didn’t know what to do. This was the very first time that I wore an agal,” the 43-year-old Al Mubarak said. “As I reached Sheikh Zayed, I tried to kiss his head and my agal fell on him.
“Sheikh Zayed took the agal and placed it on my head and then let me sit besides him. He asked me a question and spoke to me as if I was a grown man.”
He said he learned two valuable lessons in those few seconds: Wisdom and humility.
“This incident could have cost me my whole confidence if he had laughed at me. But he did not embarrass me. He gave me confidence that I still carry until this day. This was the first lesson I learned in life.”
It is because of Sheikh Zayed that the door of prosperity continues to open for the UAE and its people. “The nature of my work requires me to travel to all parts of the world, where I meet people who still remember Sheikh
I was particularly interested in what Shamma bint Sohail Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, has shared about her experience at the University of Oxford. She taught us that no matter what challenges you may face, you can overcome them.”
Salma Salim, 21, Chemical engineering student
Zayed,” said Al Mubarak. “He still opens doors for us.”
Al Mubarak, who is best known as the chairman of Manchester City Football Club, urged the youth to not “forget the responsibility that has been handed down to you”. “We are living in prosperity because of Sheikh Zayed.”
Al Mubarak said the Emirati youth is the hope for the country’s future. “The most important element in the UAE is not oil, it is the human being, and if we invest soundly in the human being, our journey will be 100 per cent successful.”
He urged the students to look beyond the challenges and mistakes they make in life.
“Those who are successful would never have been successful without making mistakes. Yet, those who are unsuccessful are the ones who never make mistakes — because they simply do nothing,” Al Mubarak said.
I have already learnt so much by just attending Mohamed Bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations. The speakers and ministers shared with us stories that truly inspired us overcome anything.”
Wedad Al Qaydi, 20,Journalism student The nature of my work requires me to travel to all parts of the world, where I meet people who still remember Sheikh Zayed. He still opens doors for us.”
Khaldoon Al Mubarak, CEO, Mubadala Development Company 3,000 Number of people who attended the last day of MBZ Majlis I am glad to have attended the Majlis. I learnt that we must not stop at the challenges in life, we have to move forward.”
Fatima Ahmed, 21, Business student