UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan has commended the efforts made by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to end the dispute among GCC countries and strengthen the unity of the six-member group.
In an address to the nation on the occasion of the 43rd anniversary of UAE’s National Day, he emphasized the UAE’s desire to actively participate in the Doha summit, showing “our support for joint work in order to realize the hopes and aspirations of GCC people.”
King Abdullah hosted an emergency summit in Riyadh last month to end the rift between three GCC countries – Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain – and Qatar. The three countries later agreed to send their ambassadors back to Doha.
Sheikh Khalifa reiterated UAE’s resolve to combat terrorism. “We have joined the international coalition with our full will to fight terrorism… in order to strengthen security and stability of the region and the whole world,” he added.
King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, meanwhile, sent messages of congratulations to Sheikh Khalifa on the occasion of the National Day. In his message, King Abdullah expressed best wishes to the government and people of UAE and hoped the country would make greater progress and prosperity. The king also underscored the distinguished relations between the Kingdom and UAE.
The rulers of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Um Al-Quwain decided to form UAE on Dec. 2, 1971, opening a new era in its history. Ras Al-Khaimah joined the group on Feb. 10, 1972.
The UAE has been playing an important role in strengthening Arab unity. It is an active member of the GCC, Arab League, Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations.
The UAE has achieved fast progress as a result of its proactive political and economic policies. Its gross domestic product jumped from 6.5 billion dirhams in 1971 to 1.54 trillion dirhams in 2014.
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company has allocated 260 billion dirhams for investment in oil and gas projects during the next 10 years to push production from 2.5 million bpd to 3.5 million bpd by 2017.
In a statement on the occasion, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, said the UAE has moved from the margins to the center of action, and from waiting, watching and reactions to initiative taking and pro-activity.
“Our political, economic and cultural presence has imposed itself and is now sought-after and welcomed around the world. The supreme goal in the first decade of our Federation was to promote education, reduce illiteracy,” he said.
The UAE has been ranked the 14th happiest country in the world, and was ranked first among the Arab countries in the second UN World Happiness Report which was produced by the University of British Columbia’s Earth Institute and which covers 156 nations, the vice president said.
“In the past four decades, three wars have broken out in our region and some of these wars went on for years posing threats to the security and stability of all the countries of the region. Thanks to our political approach, our commitment to the principles of peaceful coexistence and good-neighborliness, the preparedness and efficiency of our armed forces and security services, the unique love between our people and leaders, we have been able to spend those four decades peacefully,” Sheikh Mohammad said.
