Abu Dhabi: To mark the occasion of the 44th UAE National Day, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan announced today (Tuesday) a 10-point national programme aimed at enhancing the quality of life and diversifying the economy.

Several senior officials hailed Shaikh Khalifa’s programme, highlighting that the UAE leaders continue to exert efforts aimed at sustaining Emiratis’ long-term well-being.

Many were also in unanimous agreement that paying more attention to the teaching profession is a step in the right direction, since education forms the backbone of a successful society.

Dr Mugheer Khamis Al Khaili, acting director-general of the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec), said: “In order for a country to experience security and safety, its people, their health and education, are ought to be looked after.”

“Also, you can never rely on only one source of income; therefore, exploring other alternatives is a necessary step to ensuring that your country remains economically stable.”

Sulaiman Al Jassem, an academic researcher and Zayed University’s former vice-president, said: “Whether it is people’s national identity, the country’s youth or women’s empowerment, His Highness’ speech encompassed all the necessary ingredients that are crucial to maintaining the well-being of UAE citizens.”

Echoing similar observations around the teaching sector, lawyer Salem Esmail Al Madfa, said: “If you look at some of the most developed countries across the world, you’ll realise that the main key behind their success lies in their strong education curriculum.”

“Taking a closer look at upgrading the learning process, which His Highness Shaikh Khalifa has emphasised in his speech, is certainly a step in the right direction, as it forms the backbone of any society,” he said.

And as far as Shaikh Khalifa’s take on national identity is concerned, Al Madfa said that the UAE Armed Forces’ selfless sacrifices in Yemen prove that the people of this country continue to uphold their patriotism for this land.

Dherar Al Falasi, director-general of Watani, said that maximising government efforts to invest in the country’s youth is crucial since the youth of today are the rulers of tomorrow.

“I believe people such as the 31-year-old Saeed Al Rumaithi, who was recently elected one of the members of the Federal National Council, proves that the youth of our country have so much potential in propelling this country to advance.”