Watani, the national identity programme, yesterday hosted a gathering with the UAE key media, artists and social personalities to announce the schedule of the National Day celebrations organized next Saturday December 2nd at the Mamzar Park.
The preparations for the 35th National Day anniversary kicked off on Sunday with thousands of nationals and residents coming together to put their fingerprints on the largest map of the UAE. This mark of love and appreciation for the country and its visionary leadership will culminate on the day of the celebration which is expected to receive thousands of people from around the UAE. The various social categories including schools, universities, charity organizations, laborers, and others will come together to celebrate and embody the unity of the people that was translated 35 years ago by their leaders.
“We believe that the UAE was built on solid foundations including firm social, cultural and religious values in addition to the vision and astuteness of our leaders. We are confident that these values will create a harmonious environment in our nowadays cosmopolitan society. Therefore we invite all UAE residents and nationals to take part in the National Day celebrations to commemorate the glorious union day” said Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori the Coordinator General of Watani.
Al Mansoori also unveiled the first short feature production of the programme which aims at incorporating humming the national anthem into everyone’s daily life. “Patriotic feelings shouldn’t be restricted to an occasion, it’s a daily practice. The exercise of chanting the national anthem is becoming more and more restricted to schools and sports arenas, and we need to treat the national anthem as a melody of love such as the ones we hum to ourselves everyday. This is the reason the national anthem has been presented in the form of Humming. When one is humming there are no barriers, music transcends the boundaries of language and nationalities and unites the people to a single heartbeat.”
Following the keynote speech, the feature of the humming of the National anthem for screened with the support of some of UAE most celebrated stars attending the function.
Finally, Watani officials honored key media institutions and figures for their ongoing support for the various campaigns launched during the first year of operation by the programme.
Watani background
Watani Programme was launched on December 2, 2005 to promote the UAE national identity and practices of good citizenship within the UAE’s diverse and multicultural society.
The programme organizes and implements various educational, entertainment, sports and media activities that are directed to youth, women and children. The activities and campaigns organized by Watani are carried out by a number of volunteers and public interest advocates in the UAE.
Watani works in parallel with other successful national initiatives to enhance the social values and culture of the UAE community.
All UAE residents including expatriates and nationals are invited to participate in the Watani Programme. For further information, please visit www.watani.ae or toll free 800-928264 (800-watani)
Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori
General Coordinator
Watani
Biography
Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori is the Coordinator General of Watani Programme. The programme aims at enhancing the national identity, social development and the practice of good citizenship amongst UAE nationals and residents.
Al Mansoori holds a Masters in Quality Management from the University of Wollongong, Australia and a BA in Political Science and Economics Creighton University, USA.
Ahmed Al Mansoori pursued an interesting career at the Department of Economic Development in Dubai where he became an assistant Director of planning and development.
In 2001, he joined General Exhibitions Corporation where he played a multitude of roles including the Communications Director for the Company. And in 2002, he established “Dubai Consultancy, Research and Media Centre”.
Al Mansoori is a member of a number of associations and organizations and has been awarded the “Employee of The Year” by Dubai Government Excellence Programme.
As the Coordinator General of Watani, Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori plays a key role in motivating the volunteers and employees in order to successfully reach the objectives of the programme.
