SHARJAH: His Highness Dr. Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has said that the 46th anniversary of the UAE's National Day shows the sincere intentions, great efforts and fruitful cooperation of the UAE's founding fathers to build the nation that we have today; a nation that lives in prosperity, grace, development, looking forward to a promising future.

In a statement to Nation Shield magazine, Shaikh Sultan said, "The harvest of our founding fathers' efforts is the homeland that is dear to all of us. We live in it with dignity and pride. We continue to work day and night under the banner of the shadow of this fair union.

"On this occasion, we extend our greeting and congratulations to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Shaikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and to our brothers the Rulers of the Emirates as well as to all the sons and daughters of the United Arab Emirates. We hope that the anniversary of this day will return to us every year with prosperity, happiness, security and stability.

"Every year on the 2nd of December, we recall the historical moment at which the sons of the nation and their leaders at that time decided to unite together and to put their hands and hearts together, with resolve and with the sincere intention to live together and build a united nation.

"Today we are celebrating the achievements of our dear country; it is the moment at which the history of real accomplishments began in the society of our loving and inter-dependent nation. We look to the future with great determination and unlimited ambition, in a society where love and cooperation abounds and upon which affection and mercy is bestowed.

"The second day of December is the moment on which all the history of our ancestors came together, to lead us confidently towards a bright future, with great hopes and great responsibilities for us and our children, an occasion which we celebrate each year.

The Sharjah Ruler concluded by saying, "Congratulations once again on this great day. God bless our people and our country and may its security, stability, prosperity and pride will always prevail".