Nation celebrates a decade of Shaikh Mohammad's inspiring leadership

Abu Dhabi: A leader of true international stature, a poet and a philanthropist, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has been working tirelessly towards the goal of a glowing future for the country.

Today (January 4) marks 10 years of Shaikh Mohammad’s accession as Ruler of Dubai.

Shaikh Mohammad has presided over remarkable accomplishments in all areas that have made the nation proud.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan thanked Shaikh Mohammad for the administrative, governmental, and developmental insights he provided in the nation’s march to progress.

Shaikh Khalifa, in a statement on the occasion, said: “My brother His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has completed ten years of ruling and leading a rational and sophisticated government, one of the most advanced and efficient governments in managing its services, with the testimony of prestigious international organisations. During ten years, he also established transparent systems of government administration in performance and quality standards, smart services, and establishing programmes to prepare future generations of human cadres. In ten years of governance, my brother Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid managed to raise the standard of the government’s competitiveness internationally by establishing institutions and work teams that focus on satisfying citizens and making them happy.”

Shaikh Khalifa added, “We watched with appreciation over the ten years Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid’s government, which is characterised by its ability to establish coordination between federal government and local governments, form national teams and formulate strategic plans to achieve the vision of the leadership and continue developing the blueprint laid down by the founders alongside his fellow Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates.”

The President said, “My brother Shaikh Mohammad completes ten years in leading a successful, balanced and sustainable national economy and an efficient financial government policy using his teams of ministers and officials. During these ten years is also when my brother Shaikh Mohammad stood out with his unique government philosophy in which the function of government officials is to bring happiness to citizens, and where government agencies are managed like the private sector, and rivals it with the services it provides. We observed him over ten years inspiring thousands of young people and contributing with his brothers Their Highnesses Rulers of the Emirates in consolidating unity and cohesion among the people of the UAE and its leadership, and promoting a united, coherent and strong Emirati society, standing strong against the stormy changes experienced by our region.”

Each year on his accession day, Shaikh Mohammad took the opportunity to thank others, including mothers, the soldiers and the protectors of the nation.

“Today, we say to him, thank you Mohammad Bin Rashid for all that you have offered the UAE, Arab and Islamic nations, and for the entire world. Thank you for providing your administrative, humanitarian, economic, developmental and intellectual experiences,” said the President.

Shaikh Khalifa wished Shaikh Mohammad “a bigger, more beautiful and more giving decade to come.”

Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, said the 10th anniversary of Shaikh Mohammad’s government and vision is a chance to reflect on the remarkable achievements of a unique leader who expanded the economy and the gross domestic product several times in per capita terms since coming into government.

“Shaikh Mohammad, the philanthropist, has changed the lives of 50 million people, spread the knowledge so that people started to read 100 million books every year… Shaikh Mohammad disseminated wisdom, dazzled and inspired leaders around the world and changed the ideas and perceptions about the role of governments and rulers,” Shaikh Hamdan said.

Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, said Shaikh Mohammad has laid down the pillars of strategic planning in the government and transformed it into a smart one, raising performance in all ministries and launching a strategy to make the UAE one of the world’s most innovative nations by 2021.

Dr Amal Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council, said Shaikh Mohammad has stood out as a unique and exceptional leader and proved that nothing is impossible and led the country to a leading position among the advanced countries.

“Shaikh Mohammad’s initiatives are focused on empowering citizens in all fields and maintaining a sustainable national economy,” Dr Al Qubaisi said.

Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, published a message expressing a ‘Big Thank You, Shaikh Mohammad’ in the Arabic daily Al Bayan.

Dr Gargash praised Shaikh Mohammad as an inspiring national leader with limitless ambition.

Mohammad Al Hammadi, the editor of the Arabic daily Al Etihad, said that in the decade since his accession Shaikh Mohammad has always been enthusiastic, optimistic, ambitious and determined to face challenges and achieve success.

“The equation that nobody differs over is Mohammad Bin Rashid plus 10 years equals number one in the world,” Al Hammadi wrote in a column yesterday.