The recent news of the UAE’s 45 martyrs who lost their lives in Yemen shook our young nation to its core. Despite the fact that we live in a region torn by war and conflict, the UAE has never experienced a calamity of this magnitude in its short but tremendous journey of growth, mainly because its focus over the past 43 years was first and foremost on building a well-respected country from its simple yet proud roots. Ours is a nation that has built a country of peace, tolerance and diversity and whose citizens pride themselves on upholding these values to this day.
The founder and father of this nation, late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, carefully crafted the country’s foreign policy with massive amounts of aid to any country in need on the one hand and relentless efforts to solve any dispute through peaceful dialogue and diplomacy on the other. This strategy of goodwill has been carried forward by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the rest of the UAE’s leadership to the best of their abilities.
Over the past few days, we have seen many people question the UAE’s involvement in the recent strikes on Al Houthi rebels of Yemen, calling it a deviation from the country’s usual “Switzerland-like” stance on matters relating to conflict in other countries. It is true that throughout the history of our young nation, the UAE government has never resorted to military intervention. In the first test for our country in the area of foreign policy — and when the three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb and Abu Mousa were illegitimately occupied by Iran — the late Shaikh Zayed proved to the rest of the world that his political savvy was light years ahead of other rulers in the region at the time. He chose the path of peace, negotiation and diplomacy. That alone is enough to understand the foundation this great country was built upon — and remains unchanged to this day.
The decision to take part in the Coalition’s effort to bring peace and hope back to neighbouring Yemen, which has been hijacked by rebels and militias, was not one that was taken in a haste. Rather, it was one that came after all means to a peaceful resolution had failed.
We in the UAE know that our leadership will never put the lives of our soldiers, our sons and daughters, at risk unless there is an existential threat to this land, its people and everything we have collectively achieved over the years despite all odds.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who were clearly pained by this terrible loss of lives, constantly referred to the martyrs as “our children” and vowed that their sacrifice will not go in vain; their lives were of tremendous value to everyone living in the UAE.
Let us remember all the Emirati martyrs, who sacrificed a lifetime’s worth of precious moments with their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, spouses and children. Each one of them had dreams that they looked forward to achieving. Some had a family they cared for and worked so hard to give everything they needed to be healthy, happy and safe. Each one of them left behind a mother and a father who, like all of us parents, spent their whole life smiling every time they smiled and ached every time they got hurt and dedicated their life to raising them into becoming strong men and women. There is nothing anyone could say or do to make this easier for their loved ones, but we can pray that the bravery and strength that our martyrs showed will somehow inspire the rest of us to stay strong during these impossible times. There is no doubt that they will forever be heroes in the history of the UAE.
For years we have studied about the greatness and richness of our past, about the glories our grandparents built. About how much sweat and blood was given to build our beloved country. That generation was always a source of pride to our nation. Today, we can say with no hesitation, and with all the pride in the world, that the soldiers and martyrs of this generation served our country and its people with everything they had. Our children will learn about the men who left behind the comfort of being safe in their homes and among their loved ones to ensure the safety of their future and the stability of this region.
The martyrs will live on. From this day on, let us remember. Let us never forget the value of each of their lives and how much grief this whole nation felt the day we lost them. In every child that we care for, let us remember that those martyrs were once children and left behind children of their own. In every house that we build, let us remember that our martyrs ensured the safety of our homes. And in every prayer that we make, let us remember the broken hearts of the mothers, fathers, wives and children the martyrs once loved.
Maria Hanif and Arwa Hanif are Emirati writers from Dubai. You can follow Maria on Twitter at www.twitter.com/maria_hanif
