The visit by US President George W. Bush is a landmark event in the history of the UAE. The country is gaining increasing significance in the world due to its reputation and its political, architectural, economic and social development.
The UAE is similar to the United States in terms of its multinational and multicultural community, and hence, there is no one in the world who does not look forward to visiting the UAE and acquainting himself/herself with its developments.
In the past two decades the UAE has occupied a distinguished and unmatched position due to its stability, security and wise leadership, which has earned it a good reputation.
The UAE has become an oasis of peace for people from all over the world with its modern legislation, regulations and civilised lifestyle, which have raised its status to be ranked among the most advanced societies in the world.
The UAE's national identity has become a melting pot for various cultures, with the number of UAE nationals increasing from 150,000 to 800,000 people in less than half a century.
People were united by the national identity and the Arabic language, as Arabic is the official language and culture of the UAE and its citizens.
All citizens speak the Arabic language to reflect their culture and loyalty to their nation, especially the younger generation of UAE citizens.
Identity laws in the US do not contradict those in the UAE. They both keep pace with the spirit of the age and respect humanitarian solidarity, while accepting the other, who has the willingness to become part of the country's traditions and national identity.
The US is based on the diversity of its cultures within a framework of the American cultural identity.
The UAE also enjoys a high reputation for its solid and inter-faith tolerant community, which accepts anyone who comes to the country with noble personal and social goals, regardless of his cultural, ethnic and religious background.
This feeling of brotherhood and solidarity among people in the UAE placed the country in the focus of world attention.
The UAE always tops the list of most important countries for world leaders and officials who visit the region, and Bush's visit, which is the first visit ever by an American president to the UAE, gains special significance.
The visit, besides contributing further to the UAE's reputation, gives the country more credit in the international arena. It is very important to welcome Bush because he is the president of the world's greatest country with which the UAE has unique relations and interests.
Political differences
Despite political differences between the UAE and the US due to its supportive stand of Israel and the way it handles the Palestinian dossier at the expense of the rights of the Palestinian people, the UAE should invest this visit in favour of Gulf countries, as well as of Palestinian and Arab causes and issues.
It is wrong to think that the US is not a friend of Arabs, or cannot become a friend, because the US is a state of institutions and democracy, and its people are a diverse mix of various cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Also, there are eight million Arab and Muslim Americans, who are concerned about the issues of the Arab and Islamic worlds, and millions of non-Arab Americans who give special attention to Arab issues.
There are also many human rights and charity organisations in the US which provide assistance to suppressed and needy people all over the world with no consideration to their ethnic backgrounds. And this is another point in common between the UAE and the US.
The Dubai Cares campaign, the landmark humanitarian initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to raise funds for needy students and fight poverty through education is an example of the UAE's humanitarian interaction with people all around the world.
The UAE people are eager to live in peace with their neighbours and the rest of the world, and have no interest in making enemies or in siding with any aggression or offensive.
Thus, we must demand the US to support our sound policy and maintain our moderate principles, and I believe the visit of Bush truly mirrors Washington's acceptance of this wise and moderate policy.
As long as the US acknowledges and respects our policies, Bush's visit must be welcomed in an appropriate manner that reflects the significance of the visit and the guest.
Abdul Ghaffar Hussain is a UAE researcher and writer.
