Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has reaffirmed the UAE’s success is due to its leadership’s vision and its people’s ability to adapt to change.
In his speech to mark the 42nd anniversary of the UAE National Day, published by Dira’a Al Watan magazine, Shaikh Mohammad highlighted the achievements made by the UAE in 2013 including, among others, the accelerated pace of economic growth.
He paid homage to the country’s forefathers who preserved this land by standing firm against all challenges and by defying the harsh environment, scarce resources and difficult living conditions and congratulated President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is leading the UAE through the avenues of advancement and giving the federation the impetus to grow stronger.
“This year,” he noted, “The UAE made the largest progress ever made in the fields of global competitiveness, according to reports by the United Nations and other international organisations concerned with comprehensive development, modernity, stability, prosperity and happiness.”
Spelling out some of the many achievements the UAE has made, Shaikh Mohammad said, “Our country has made achievements in all domains. Our economy continues to flourish, registering the highest growth rates in the region and counted among the best performing in the world. The government’s budget for 2011-13, was a big success, leading to marked improvements in the use of resources and development of government performance. The three-year 2013-16 budget, with a 15 per cent increase, was issued and half of its expenses have been allocated for social benefits to citizens and human development programmes, being the main pillar for the government’s policies, plans, strategies and initiatives.
“The success of our country was not a product of mere chance, but as a result of the leadership’s vision, planning and keen interest in serving the country and its citizens. It is a result of continuous interaction among different generations and the unique relation of trust and allegiance between the people and their leader. It is a result of self-development, knowledge and the ability to adapt to changes. Our success is complemented by our optimistic vision, yearning for excellence, encouraging innovation and belief that failure is just another experience in life and a good lesson for the next attempt.
Regional security
“As proud as we are, we are not going to be intoxicated by these successes. They are in fact, a warning for us to continue shouldering our responsibilities and a call for us to rally our efforts and to move on with our task of achieving further progress to our country,” he added.
“It is time to look to the future with confidence and optimism. We stand on solid ground. Our people are enjoying the fruits of the development process and becoming an essential part of it. Our country is enjoying respect and making a strong presence in international arenas and becoming an icon for determination for success.”
He added that just a few days before celebrating the 42nd National Day anniversary, all these indices culminated in a resounding win as the country was announced winner of the Expo 2020 bid, following an arduous two-year journey of competition with internationally-renowned cities.
“As His Highness Shaikh Khalifa affirmed, our joy in the UAE was doubled by the win as it coincides with the celebrations of the 42nd National Day. This success was the culmination of a series of successes and great achievements the UAE has been incessantly making since its establishment 42 years ago to remain in the lead in all fields.
“We have a lot to accomplish and we have no excuse for any delays or poor performance. We have what it takes to achieve as we are blessed with rich resources, capabilities, expertise, positive energy, a thirst for knowledge, dedication and above all, the leadership’s unlimited support,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
The future, he continued to say, is for everyone, but only those who heed its call, speak its language and explore its directions, will be able to get a fair share of it. “The future knows no waiting, delay or procrastination. Therefore, our only choice in the UAE is to put the future at the hearts of our plans. We should make the future by competing for a place in it.
“We speak the same language of the future and we are ready for its challenges, without ignoring challenges of the present.”
Further afield, Shaikh Mohammad said: “We closely monitor the developments in the region and the world and do what we can to enhance regional security and stability and in supporting people’s right for the determination of their future. We help fraternal countries with their development plans.”
