Message from H.E. Abdulhamid A K Al Mulla - UAE Ambassador
On 2nd December, the federation of the United Arab Emirates will mark the 42nd anniversary of its establishment in 1971. On this happy occasion, I am extremely pleased to extend heartiest greetings, on behalf of the Government of the United Arab Emirates, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed AlNahyan - President of the United Arab Emirates and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum - Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and the Ruler of Dubai, to the friendly people of Sri Lanka, led by His Excellency Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa - President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
Formed in 1971 from seven Emirates, Abu Dhabi, which is the capital, Dubai the Country's commercial centre, Sharjah, Ras-al-Kaimah, Fujairah, Umm-al-Quwain and Ajman, the UAE is located in the south-eastern corner of the Arabian peninsula, with coastlines on the Arabian Gulf and on the Indian Ocean.
Over the past 42 years, UAE has not only survived, but also developed at a rate that is almost without parallel. Progress, in terms of social services, health and education, as well as in sectors such as communication and the oil and non-oil economy, has brought a high standard of living that has spread throughout the seven emirates, from ultra-modern cities to the remotest areas of dessert and mountains.
Since its formation in 1971,
the Federation of seven Emirates, comprising the UAE has brought an enviable degree of political stability and security to the region. In fact the UAE is the only state in the Arab world to have a working federal system that has stood the test of time. Due to the vision of late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan AlNahyan, the founder of UAE, the UAE's political system, which is a unique combination of the traditional and modern, has underpinned this political success, enabling the country to develop a modern administrative structure while at the same time ensuring the best of the traditions of the past are maintained, adapted and preserved.
In the field of Foreign Policy, UAE has strengthened its role as a significant player within the international community. The UAE's political leadership operates within the broad foreign policy framework that was established by the founding President of the Federation, late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan. This approach emphasizes diplomacy, negotia- tion and compassion. The UAE is mindful of its commitment to its neighbors and the international community, with regard to regional peace, stability and security for all. A distinguished feature of the UAE in the field of foreign policy is based on strategic principles which elaborate UAE's commitment to the United Nations and respect for international treaties, and building relationship with all the countries in the world based on mutual respect and non-interference in internal matters. It also aspires to solve global crisis through negotiations and peaceful means and to stand for truth and justice.
The UAE economy has grown 200 folds since the country's foundation in 1971 and is now the second biggest economy in the Arab world. Following a dip during the global financial crisis, economic growth has once again picked up pace, with GDP rising by 4.4 per cent in 2012. I am pleased to mention that the United Arab Emirates has : Continued to maintain its position as the first among Arab countries in the Global Happiness and Satisfaction Index and has been placed in the 14th position from among 156 countries in UN's Happiness Report 2013. For the second consecutive year has been ranked the first among the Arab countries and ascended to the 3-oth rank globally from along 187 countries, and categorized among very high human development countries in the Human Development Report of 2011, commissioned by UNDP. The Global Competitiveness Report for the year 2013/14 shows that UAE has advanced by five places to be ranked the 19th in the general classification for the year 2013. The state has maintained for the eight consecutive years, its presence in the ranks of "economies based on creativity and innovation", which is considered as one of the most advanced stages of the global economies based on methodology followed by the World Economic Forum, which ranks 148 countries under three main categories.