Guiding the UAE through very turbulent times
As president, Khalifa remained committed to building a nation of active citizens while steering the UAE through the chaos of so-called Arab Spring and global financial crisis
Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan presided over the UAE during a period of unprecedented economic and political turbulence, and his steady leadership allowed the UAE to focus on what was important and also play a significant role in the region. His consistent focus on the UAE’s young people and their education was part of his overall strategy of steady organic growth leading to greater and wider prosperity.
The global economic boom of the 2000s dominated the early years of Shaikh Khalifa’s presidency and transformed regional economies, but this ended with the traumatic bust of 2008 and the subsequent slow recovery back to economic normality.
The political scene in the Arab region changed dramatically in January 2011 with the so-called Arab Spring, which led to unprecedented chaos and turbulence across the Arab world in subsequent years as Islamists and nationalists fought for power. As the UAE’s president, Shaikh Khalifa played an essential role in developing a coherent way forward in the region to combat the chaos.
While guiding the UAE through chaotic politics and economics, Shaikh Khalifa did not lose sight of his underlying long-term strategy of building a nation of active citizens, well-educated, committed and involved in the spirit of the UAE’s federation. Time and again throughout his presidency, Shaikh Khalifa made clear his faith in the young people of the emirates being able and ready to pick up the challenge of taking their country forward.
Shaikh Khalifa was committed to the natural evolution of the Federal National Council (FNC) to take on more responsibilities and become more representative of the people as a whole. He was also committed to building and maintaining a world class education system for Emiratis. Neither of these tasks was easy.
In 2005, Shaikh Khalifa summarised his concept of an active citizen when he said, “It is high time to make the UAE people understand the true meaning of work — that it means responsibility and reflects human, civil and religious values. Our institutions also need to work hard to diversify the skills of the national human resources, to raise productivity, encourage investment in human resources development, improve voluntary work and create awareness on this noble work and its significance to individuals and society in general.”
It was in 2006, two years after Shaikh Khalifa took office, that the FNC had its first elections when half the members were voted into office by a small electoral college. In 2008, the Supreme Council passed some amendments to the UAE constitution, which gave the FNC more powers and improved government transparency.
It is high time to make the UAE people understand the true meaning of work — that it means responsibility and reflects human, civil and religious values. Shaikh Khalifa in 2005
Inclusive government
In 2011, the FNC elections involved a much wider section of the population. Shaikh Khalifa made it clear that the intention was to move to full elections including all UAE adults. On the occasion of the UAE’s 40th National Day the same year, Shaikh Khalifa made clear the leadership’s commitment to a more inclusive government.
“We assert that broadening popular participation is a firm national trend and an irrevocable option which we have chosen with our full will. We will continue to take it forward gradually and steadily in response to the aspirations of our people for a homeland in which they can come forward together to serve and develop society,” he said.
Shaikh Khalifa was referring to the success of the 2011 elections when he added that the UAE has successfully completed the second phase of this gradual approach. “We adopted a method to expand popular participation in elections and to empower the FNC and increase its powers and enhance its role. This phase was crowned with the election of a new FNC, which has commenced its sessions as a more vocal organ of national will.
In an interview with Diraa Al Watan magazine, Shaikh Khalifa said: “We hope that the FNC will perform its role in complete cooperation with the executive authority as a responsible platform for national issues and with a positive impact in decision-making.”
UAE traditions
Throughout his life, Shaikh Khalifa paid great attention to Emirati tradition. In 1992, he said at a military graduation ceremony that “the wonderful cohesion between the leadership and the people of the UAE though not new should not pass unnoticed.
“It deserves contemplation and study to benefit from it, especially as we set out towards a new future that will require great responsibilities from all of us”.
Shaikh Khalifa maintained this stance as president, which was hailed by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who said in November 2013 that “the principle of Shura as the basis of good governance has been part of the UAE since its very early history. Working with that, the Ruler’s majlis was the first brick in the system of democratic practice initiated by Emiratis for a very long time”.
He added: “After the establishment of the UAE, the Federal National Council emerged to set the official framework for this practice through organised structure with ruling principles, rules and laws that laid the foundation for a wider societal participation, which we go forward to achieve, but in a carefully planned manner, that ensures the safety of the empowerment process initiated by my brother, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan since 2006.”
We hope that the FNC will perform its role in complete cooperation with the executive authority as a responsible platform for national issues ...” Shaikh Khalifa in 2011