Leaders extol UAE progress, optimistic about the future
UAE marks landmark achievements
President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has called on the people of the UAE to look to the future with optimism and contribute with ideas and visions that will help the country achieve further progress across all sectors.
Sheikh Khalifa said that while the nation prepares to celebrate its Golden Jubilee in 2021, the nation’s sons and daughters should be ready to welcome the next 50 years with future visions “that will prepare our country for more development across all sectors, so that by year 2071, the UAE will become the first in the world in global indicators for well-being, happiness and quality of life.”
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that the 2nd December will remain the nation’s most cherished day wherein wisdom, principles and noble goals triumphed. “It is the day when our Founding Fathers embodied the quintessential Emirati values of dignity and steadfastness and represented the sense of belonging and national identity.”
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has affirmed that the UAE’S 49th National Day marks a milestone in its history during which it stands with pride and full of determination to continue its progress and achievements across various fields.
Sheikh Mohamed said that the country’s achievements have never stopped despite challenges along the way, which confirms that the UAE’S development experience is exceptional and unmatched worldwide.
His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, said that the UAE, while marking 49 years of its union this year, “treats all its nationals and residents alike, forging ahead with a proven track record of achievements that have been possible thanks to the Founding Fathers who instilled the noble values of unity, dedication and giving among our people. This helps the journey of an evergreen pursuit of success and happiness.”
His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, said the UAE has made great historical achievements, and continues to strengthen its stature in all areas.
Sheikh Humaid said, “On the 2nd of December 1971, the Emirati people were on a date with a brighter tomorrow, as that day opened the prospects for a promising future, prosperity and happiness for the UAE community.”
The UAE has atained its prominent stature among the world nations by following the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, said His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah.
His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, said that the UAE today is racing to deliver on its goals and achieve global leadership as per the highest international standards.
His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, on the occasion of 49th National Day, stressed that the UAE is a model of solidarity among siblings who have been united under the Union Flag to secure the greatest amount of good for their people.
Sheikha Hind Bint Majid Al Qasimi, Chairperson of Sharjah Business Women Council (SBWC) told Gulf Today that under the UAE’S wise and ambitious leadership, the country’s remarkable achievements in priority sectors have enhanced its dominance in the economic and socio-cultural spheres at both the regional and global levels.
Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, Executive Chairman of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), said: “We congratulate our leadership, citizens and residents on the 49th UAE National Day, as we aspire for bigger achievements and more global praise in years to come.”
Reem Binkaram, Director of NAMA Women Advancement Establishment has turned the spotlight on the milestone achievements of the nation’s women over the past five decades to reinforce UAE’S position as a global leader.
Bin Karam said: “The UAE National Day is a significant, historic observance not only for the nation, but the region and the world. It marks the birth of a concept of progress based on true partnership and collaboration among all members of society, of investment in human capital, and an era of exemplary achievements in ataining gender equity.”
UAE weathers challenges of 2020: VP; nation’s development is exceptional and unmatched worldwide, says AD CP; UAE a global model for unity, cohesion, stresses Sultan.
On 2nd December, 2020, the UAE will celebrate its 49th National Day. Despite the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the UAE made this year many achievements and breakthroughs.
The country’s successes in key strategic sectors such as space and energy were remarkable. The launch of the Hope Probe to Mars and the announcement of the first Arab project to explore the Moon grabbed the global atention.
The UAE officially joined the nuclear energy club with the successful operation of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant’s first nuclear reactor that generates environmental-friendly electricity. The discovery of new natural gas and oil fields was also a major development in energy sector.
The UAE contributed to the global fight against COVID-19 by extending its humanitarian presence across the globe to provide urgent medical aid to around 120 countries. Its local work in addressing the pandemic is one of the most successful in the world, proven by low national infection rates and the number of tests performed surpassing the country’s total population.
The UAE is continuing to promote tolerance and establish stability and coexistence in the region, and its related efforts were crowned by the signing of a historic peace accord between the UAE and Israel, while continuing to call for tolerance and denouncing extremism across the world.
In 2020, the year of preparations for the next fity years, the UAE has secured its place among the top ten countries, in terms of global competitiveness, and witnessed the issuance of new laws and legislation, reinforcing women’s achievements and consolidating the economic and social stability of Emirati citizens and residents.
The UAE also adopted the Federal Budget 2020 to the tune of Dhs58.113 billion, while the country’s banking system’s assets amounted to Dhs3.252 trillion in the third quarter of 2020, marking a 5.4 percent increase, compared to the same period in 2019.
SPACE
In 2020, the UAE consolidated its position among the group of leading countries in the field of space explorations, by accomplishing historic achievements and proving that there are no limits to the ambitions of its leadership and people.
The launch of the Hope Probe to explore Mars on 20th July, 2020, was the key Emirati achievement in the space sector this year, placing the country within the group of seven countries that are studying the red planet. The world is waiting for the Hope Probe to reach Mars at 19:42 on 9th February, 2021.
In September 2020, the UAE’S achievements were accelerated through the launch of Meznsat, the country’s first environmental satellite. The country has launched 11 satellites in the past 20 years. The UAE also announced a comprehensive project to explore the Moon, which includes a 100 percent indigenously built lunar orbiter, called Rashid, as the UAE becomes the fourth country in the world to participate in lunar discoveries for scientific purposes, ater the US, the former USSR and China.
In October, 2020, the UAE announced a new satellite, MBZ-SAT, which is the second satellite to be fully manufactured by Emirati engineers, ater Khalifa-sat.
NUCLEAR ENERGY
In 2020, the UAE began producing electricity from nuclear energy, when the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, ENEC, announced that the Nawah Energy Company - the company responsible for maintaining the Barakah Peaceful Nuclear Plant - began the successful operation of the plant’s first nuclear reactor. This was announced ater the process to link the plant’s reactor and the main national electricity network was completed.
COMPETITIVENESS
For the fourth consecutive year, the UAE has led Middle Eastern and North African countries in the 2020 World Competitiveness Annual Report issued by the IMD Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland. The UAE ranked ninth in the world in global competitiveness.
The UAE also ranked first in the world in 23 indexes, and ranked among the top five countries in the world in 59 indexes, as well as among the top 10 in the world in 106 indexes, out of the total 338 indexes in the report.
THE PEACE ACCORD
The Peace Accord signed by the UAE and Israel is the major political event of 2020, as the diplomatic breakthrough achieved by the UAE through the accord is an opportunity to achieve prosperity for the region and the entire world, despite the difficult times witnessed by humanity.
There is a consensus among various political circles around the globe that the accord reflects the UAE’S message of peace and tolerance, and its sovereign decision to realise its own view of the future, disengaged from the discourse of conflict and hostility. Most importantly, the accord will serve the Palestinian cause, protect the rights of Palestinian people, and stop Israel’s annexation of Palestinian lands.
The UAE’S key global role was highlighted by its efforts to combat the coronavirus, confirming the humanitarian aspect of its foreign policy. The UAE provided urgent humanitarian and medical aid to some 120 countries, benefiting millions of frontline medical workers fighting the virus.
CORONAVIRUS
The UAE created its own model of managing the coronavirus crisis, from the confrontation phase to the recovery stage. The country was among the first to overcome the repercussions of the crisis and turn challenges into opportunities for achieving growth, development, competitiveness and sustainability.
In order to contain the coronavirus pandemic, the Emirati model benefited from the many advantages, most notably its dynamic government administration and efficiency, as well as its significant financial capacities that enabled it to make the correct decisions and adopt appropriate precautionary and preventive procedures without considering financial costs.
Other advantages included the quality of its healthcare system that responded to the crisis without experiencing any disruptions or shortages of equipment, medical supplies and human resources. The country was well-prepared to handle emergencies and crises by enhancing its strategic reserves of food and medicine.