Dubai: It took only four decades for the UAE's leaders (past and present) to build such a glorious and magnificent nation. In such a short period of time and since the establishment of the federation in 1971, the country's leaders were able to achieve what other countries would in about 100 years, said Ebrahim Abdul Malek, Secretary General of the Authority of Youth and Sports in the UAE.
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Abdul Malek said the UAE has witnessed massive development during the years following the federation.
"With the federation, the area was transformed from a desert to a developed and civilised country in just in 40 years," he said.
He said prior to the establishment of the UAE it was known as Trucial States. Life was tough he said with lack of essential services. Health services were not adequate, only two hospitals were in operation Al Maktoum and Al Kuwaiti hospitals (now known as Al Baraha hospital).
"There was lack of proper health services with very few doctors, who were not even specialists or consultants. I remember that in Dubai there were only two general practitioners, one of them a British doctor whose name was Micoli and the other was Dr Chacko from India. In addition there were few small private clinics," he said.
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Abdul Malek said there were very few schools. "I studied at Al Ahmadiya primary school which was in Al Ras area where my family used to live. The school has now been turned into a museum," he said.
He added that during the late 1950s and early 1960s a religious institute and a school in Dubai opened where he went to study later on.
"I used to walk to school as there were no cars or school buses. When I turned 10-years-old I used to ride a bicycle and when I reached high school I bought a motorcycle. We used to live near the Gold Souq in Al Ras. There were no roads only sandy paths. In the late 1960s a few roads were constructed. During the rains, we used to walk in knee-deep water," he recollected.
Education
Abdul Malek said that before the formation of the federation pupils used to go to Qatar, Kuwait and Egypt for education. "The Kuwaiti government played a vital role in the education system during that time. They used even to distribute uniforms, shoes, books and food for the pupils" he said.
Abdul Malek said that people showed great interest in studying during that time as they were aware that education was vital to achieve success.
"The Trucial States was not rich, there were no luxuries and the only way to achieve success as through education," he said.
"Life has changed much now and people have various other options such as running businesses. In the past, there were no options. People from my generation were interested in studying. Many of them went abroad to study. I went to Egypt to study commerce and business following which we have helped in the building our modern country," he said.
He said life transformed after the formation of the federation under the leadership of late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the other Rulers who helped build the modern nation. "Our leaders built the country with very strong foundations keeping in mind what is best for the country and its people which has made the UAE one of the most unique in the world," he said.
"Our leaders established a strong nation offering the best facilities which include education, health services, infrastructure, roads, bridges, building and housing for Emiratis. People are encouraged to run businesses, trade and also work in the agricultural sector," he said
Abdul Malek recalls the days of the declaration of the federation. "We were proud of becoming becoming and independent nation," he said.
"As the Secretary General for Authority of Youth and Sports and from my interest in sports I can tell that in the past we had no proper sports club.
Clubs
"There were only some small sports clubs which were operated from houses. We had no sport grounds and games used to be to played on hard surfaces called sibkha. People had to stand or sit on the ground to watch football games.
"But now the facilities built by our government is of international standards," he said.
"When I was young life was very simple. People in the neighbourhood knew each other.
"Children spent time near the sea either fishing, swimming or playing at the Al Seef beach or at Sakeek road near our parents house," he recollected.
"We were very mature as children and used to work in order to earn money. We used to collect stones from the sea and sell it. We also used to collect cans from the roads wash it in the sea and sell it to the patisserie shops," he said.
He said before 1970 there were no electricity or water and houses built from mud and stones.
