UAE National Day: Preparations in full swing

Abu Dhabi: The UAE will soon mark its 38th National Day with preparations in full swing to mark the glorious occasion at a time it will press ahead with its march of prosperity and realisation of more national achievements.

Commenting on the occasion, Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, lauded the great support given by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to the country's march to renaissance, especially in the field of higher education.

He noted that the leadership never failed to provide the citizens with all that is necessary for their success, welfare and prosperity.

Speaking to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the minister also hailed the role played by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in the field of higher education as well as his continued support to the building of a knowledge-based society in the UAE.

Shaikh Nahyan also paid tribute to Their Highnesses the UAE Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates for their support to higher education in the country. This has made the UAE a major centre of educational development.

He also thanked the leaders of the country for providing the citizens with excellent educational opportunities available on the global level with the full conviction that education is the definite way into prosperity, progress and success for individuals and the society.

Prestigious position

Meanwhile, Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, stressed that the achievements attained by the UAE under the wise leadership of Shaikh Khalifa placed the country in a prestigious regional and international position.

In an interview with WAM, the minister said that the Environment Ministry, since its inception, has been receiving support to boost its capacity.

Fahd noted that the ministry launched a number of initiatives to protect the environment.

Speaking on the occasion also was Mohammad Bin Dha'en Al Hamili, Minister of Energy, who said that the huge achievements have been attained due to the directives and support from the UAE leadership.

"The power grid inter-link is one of the most important energy projects. The project to link the UAE emirates' power networks with the unified Emirates National Network at a cost about Dh900million has been completed," he noted.

Al Hamili indicated that the unified power link would stabilise the network and put an end to full or partial periodic blackouts in some emirates. He noted that there were some power grid projects to link the GCC countries.

On water, he continued that the UAE has overcome challenges in this field by resorting to desalination of sea water, adding that the UAE produces about 2.3billion gallon a day, constituting 13 per cent of the total output of water desalination plants in the world.

The UAE ranks second after Saudi Arabia in regard to the production of the desalinated water in the world.

Overall renaissance

Education Minister Humaid Obaid Al Qutami said that the UAE has become a model for the world with its formidable achievements under the prudent leadership who ensured the best living standards and welfare for citizens and residents.

Al Qatami said that the accomplishments of the UAE could be seen in every facet of life as well as in the overall renaissance in educational, healthcare, agricultural, economic, cultural, tourism, sports, information, infrastructure and all other fields.

This progress has taken our country into the heights, placing it in the rank of the advanced countries of the world, said Al Qatami.

He paid tribute to UAE leaders and rulers for leading the country to continued prosperity and progress.

He specially shed light on the eventful march of the UAE in the field of education and the marvellous achievements of the country in this field.

Judicial system

On his part, Minister of Justice Dr. Hadef Bin Jua'an Al Daheri outlined achievements in the area of judicial system.

He said that the ministry's services, projects and development of the judicial system that are adopted as part of its strategic plan have won an excellent position for the ministry in the area of performance indicators streamlined by the federal strategy of governance promulgated by the cabinet and implemented since the year 2008.

The minister said in an interview that the directives of Shaikh Khalifa and Shaikh Mohammad as well as their keenness for making the UAE a competitive and pioneering country are adopted as the modality of work at the ministry of justice.

The minister stressed that the envisaged development in the five-year plan will be evidently felt in the courts and public prosecution departments. This will place the UAE on the forefront in terms of speed of service, quality, excellence as well as the speed of procedures compared to the judicial systems of other countries.

He explained that the plan for the nationalisation of judicial cadres at the ministry endorsed by the Cabinet includes all disciplines and extends until 2013. The ministry carried out a plan for sending judicial staff to study abroad in preparation for the support of specialised courts with their newly earned experience.

The minister paid tributes to the President and Vice-President and The Rulers of the Emirates on the glorious occasion.