Dubai: The UAE placing first in government trust by the Edelman Trust Barometer survey is the result of the UAE’s 42 year march that started with the late Shaikh Zayed and late Shaikh Rashid, who were always close to the citizens, said His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

In a statement issued regarding the survey results, Shaikh Mohammad said that Shaikh Zayed and Shaikh Rashid were very close, and always worked to ensure their welfare. He said that this approach is the one being continued by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who deservedly is leading the most trusted government in the world.

The UAE, which ranked sixth last year, leaped to first position in 2014, recording the biggest increase in trust. The UAE also ranked first in trust in the economy.

The New York based Edelman Foundation confirmed that the plans and strategies launched by the UAE government contributed to boosting confidence in the government and economic performance during the last period.

“The UAE adopts a unique development model through which the Government and people work together as one. The government trusts the people, and the people trust the government,” said Shaikh Mohammad.

He said that the people’s trust is due to their closeness with the government, which inquires about the needs of the people and responds to them.

“The international reports are not as important as the fact that we are receiving impartial indexes issued by foreign institutions. It proves that we adopting a correct approach for the welfare and happiness of our people, and their trust in us continues to grow, year after year,” said Shaikh Mohammad.

“I would like to tell the people of the UAE that we are looking forward, and that our current focus is on the implementation of the recently launched National Agenda. Ahead of us are seven years filled with hard work, and we have great aspirations that have been included in the agenda, and which will hopefully be achieved before 2021,” added Shaikh Mohammad.

Shaikh Mohammad said that the people’s trust is earned through long years of continuous hard work, and is the result of various achievements that were completed. He said that in order to maintain this trust, achievements must be doubled, efforts intensified, and exerting capabilities to serve the people by achieving their aspirations and meeting their expectations.

“The UAE will continue to develop, will remain close to its people, and together as one we will achieve only greater heights,”