His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates is launching today, with a legacy of achievements, towards the next 50 years under a comprehensive, long-term strategic vision, characterized by excellence, uniqueness, and leadership. Its objectives include securing a happy future and a better life for future generations while elevating the state's status, reputation, sustainability, and soft power, aiming to be one of the best countries in the world by the centenary of its establishment, with the strongest and most active economy.
In a speech on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the establishment of the UAE, addressed through the "Dare Al Watan" magazine, he prayed to God for mercy and forgiveness for the founder of the state and builder of its renaissance, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, and for his brothers, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Sheikh Rashid bin Hamid bin Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, Sheikh Ahmad bin Rashid Al Mualla, Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Furaisi, as well as for their national work pioneers.
In detail, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated, "On this exceptional day, the second of December 2021, on which we celebrate the golden jubilee of the establishment of our state, we pray for mercy and forgiveness for the founder of the state and builder of its renaissance, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and for his brothers, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Sheikh Rashid bin Hamid bin Abdulaziz Al Nuaimi, Sheikh Ahmad bin Rashid Al Mualla, Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Furaisi, and for their national work pioneers."
He continued, "To you, the sons and daughters of this nation, we have great appreciation for your deep belonging and sincere loyalty over the years of our journey, and for the efforts you have made in building. On your behalf, we congratulate my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the State, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, and my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, as well as my brothers, the Highnesses members of the Supreme Council of the Union and rulers of the Emirates, who have shouldered the responsibility and carried the trust to strengthen the pillars of the Union and establish its institutions, disseminate its culture, and deepen its spirit."
His Highness the President stated: "Our founding fathers adopted comprehensive development as a methodology to build this state. They made the UAE's reality—its human, social, cultural, and economic components—the foundation for establishing the constitutional, organizational, and structural bases of the state, and for founding its administrative, productive, and service functions, resulting in a journey characterized by bravery, initiative, and achievement. During this time, our forefathers established the Union; as a spirit, a legislation, an institution, and a national army, they considered building the individual a strategic goal and a top priority."
He affirmed that with strong will and visionary insight, the phase has yielded notable developmental achievements that paved the way for a pioneering federal experience, embodied the values of understanding and coordination between federal and local levels, enhanced values of work, giving, and participation, deepened pride in the nation, and strengthened ties with its Gulf and Arab affiliations.
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan highlighted that "based on the same solid foundations established by our fathers, we continued to build the state and empower its proud identity, cohesive families, unified society, a diverse and innovative knowledge-based economy, high-standard health and educational services, modern integrated infrastructure, a sustainable environment, and a competitive global standing, enhancing the capability of individuals and institutions to contribute actively and consciously in shaping and contributing to the future."
Talking about women and youth, he said: "We have succeeded in empowering women and youth, built a diverse knowledge-based national economy, sent the first Emirati astronaut to the International Space Station, launched the Hope Probe to Mars, making our country the first Arab and fifth globally to achieve this accomplishment. We inaugurated the first multi-reactor nuclear energy project in the Arab world, turning our country into a regional hub for new and renewable energy projects, and adopted a national strategy to attract talents and minds. We strongly linked our domestic policies with our foreign approach, enhancing the state's status within its Gulf, Arab, Islamic, and global surroundings. Under the motto 'Bridging Minds and Shaping the Future,' our country has been hosting "Expo 2020 Dubai," the largest global trade event in our region's history since last October."
His Highness indicated that "the past 50 years of our nation's journey have yielded sustainable development, political stability, safety, and a government among the most efficient in the world, alongside a private sector that played a central role in advancing the economy, enhancing its competitiveness and productivity. We presented humanity with an inspiring development success story, transforming our nation into a regional and international financial hub, a preferred destination for living, working, investing, and tourism, excelling in indicators of happiness, excellence, governance, economic openness, quality of life, and entrepreneurship. We thank God that we have successfully overcome the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic, returning life in our country to normal while adhering to the approved precautionary measures."
He added: "With this legacy of achievements, today we launch towards the next 50 years with a comprehensive, long-term strategic vision; its methodology is excellence, uniqueness, and leadership; and its objectives are to secure a happy future and a better life for future generations. We aim to elevate our state's standing, reputation, sustainability, and soft power, striving to ensure that by the centenary of its establishment, it will be one of the best countries in the world, with the strongest and most active economy."
His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated, “Our path to achieving these goals is clear: an educational system that strengthens noble moral values, turning our schools and universities into open environments nurturing sciences and the arts, advanced technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship, a diverse knowledge-based economy competing with the best economies in the world, an aware family, and a cohesive, tolerant society enjoying health, safety, and happiness."
He continued: "Based on the ten guiding principles announced for the next 50 years, the values system in our country, as established by our fathers, will remain based on openness, tolerance, preserving rights, establishing a just state and the rule of law, respecting cultures, promoting human brotherhood, and respecting national identity. The pursuit of establishing peace and regional and global stability and the principles of good neighborliness will remain the main driver of our foreign policy. Strengthening Gulf cooperation in its political, economic, social, and security dimensions will remain a top priority for the UAE. We stand with the countries of our Gulf system against all that threatens their stability, unity, and security, affirming that Gulf security is indivisible and its enhancement is a collective responsibility requiring intensified strategic coordination among all GCC states, meeting our peoples' aspirations for a secure and prosperous future. Supporting peace efforts, dialogue, negotiation, and acceptance of others will remain among the firm principles of our foreign policy, as it has been for the past 50 years."
His Highness confirmed, "Our diplomacy will remain active, stimulating and elevating Arab capabilities, building a strong network of understandings and partnerships with major, emerging, and developing powers, enhancing a culture of tolerance, controlling conflicts, addressing climate change, investing in sustainable development goals, fighting hunger, disease, and poverty, and providing humanitarian and developmental aid, which are integral parts of our nation's journey and ethical commitments."
In conclusion, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan stated, “We are proud of our citizens, both men and women, who work diligently in all areas of giving and contributing, and we are proud of our government team, which includes the most sincere leadership and best competencies, having successfully embodied noble values over the past 50 years and translated the principles established by our founding fathers into services and infrastructure we can boast of to nations. We are proud of the soldiers, staff officers, and leaders of our armed forces, police, and various security agencies, who have carried the trust and fulfilled their duties. We take pride in the residents on our land; they are our partners in building and development, an integral part of our nation's success and excellence story, and we are grateful that God has helped us carry the responsibility.”
