The President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, affirmed that May 6th is one of the glorious and eternal days in the history of the United Arab Emirates. In a speech directed to members of the armed forces on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of its unification, the UAE President stated, "May 6th is a glorious and eternal day in the history of the UAE; on this day in 1976, one of the most important decisions in our nation was made, the decision to unify our armed forces, which strengthened the pillars of the union and solidified the experience of unity that the founder and his brothers, may their souls rest in peace, worked on."
He added, "On this cherished occasion, I extend my greetings and appreciation to all members of our armed forces across their various branches. I thank them, support them, and value their national role and sincere contributions in preserving the nation's gains in various fields. I also commend the national values they embody, representing our dear homeland by assisting those in need and the afflicted in disaster and crisis areas."
He continued, "On this day, we remember our noble martyrs who gave their lives in defense of the UAE and its authentic values, setting the finest examples of patriotism and sacrifice."
He concluded, "Our armed forces will remain the shield of the nation, a protector of development, and a pillar of progress in the United Arab Emirates."
