UAE heads towards a new phase of empowerment

The UAE federation proves every day that it goes from strength to strength in all local and foreign arenas, with the solid foundations of the Emirati society becoming more deeply rooted and firmly established, thus signifying that the federal state is stronger, more cohesive and more mature than ever.

This approach comes as part of a comprehensive process to further enhance the national identity of all Emiratis, and achieve human development and high growth rates in all walks of economic, social, educational and cultural life.

As the federation gets stronger and stronger, the UAE embraced an approach to expand the scope of public participation and realise a federal legitimacy based on the immense accomplishments achieved by the federal state for the benefit of the entire Emirati society and citizens.

During the stage of federation, the state managed to ensure that its citizens enjoy high living standards and a high per capita income, considered among the highest incomes in the world.

The legitimacy of this accomplishment, which is a result of the immense efforts by the founding leaders of the federation, most notably Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, has turned to become an overwhelming popular legitimacy and an unprecedented popular satisfaction.

This legitimacy has allowed the country to withstand all complications and face various difficulties and challenges imposed by the strategic importance of this region throughout the stage of establishment spanning three decades after the creation of the federation.

During the phase of establishment, the spirit of the Union has prevailed, and is manifested in federal institutions and the modern social structure, such as education and health, as well as the empowerment of women.

This phase also witnessed the setting up of a social security network, modern infrastructure, ensuring security and stability, modernising the government administration and promotion of the culture of excellence, productivity and competition.

Moreover, the UAE has adopted an approach to diversify its sources of income to achieve a balanced development in different parts of the country across its seven emirates, and offering business opportunities for all community sectors.

Obviously, the phase of empowerment began in the middle of the fourth decade of the Federation — a stage that was dictated by major and deep changes and shifts among the UAE society. This phase also started to impose itself after a new generation of young leadership came to power, whether at the federal or at local level, and due to global developments, which require a conscious response to changes and the revolution in communication and information technologies, leaving the door wide open for the younger generations, who become openly exposed to the worlds of administration, media, trade, cultures and new values imposed by globalisation.

The success of the empowerment stage depends on developing the skills and abilities of human resources so as to create a skilled and professional generation that forms the country’s real wealth and human capital and will lead this phase and build on what has already been achieved. This highly skilled generation will contribute to realisation of a sustainable development for the benefit of generations to come.

UAE legislations and regulations need to be developed and updated to further deepen the spirit of the Union and unite all citizens under one national unity that prevails over local, tribal or sectarian lines, and provides quality of education and health, to ensure the success of the empowerment phase.

Furthermore, this phase calls for expanding the culture of dialogue in the Emirati society, development of the role of the Federal National Council (FNC) to become a full-fledged legislature that can play an effective legislative and control role and consolidate its representative status.

It is vital for the UAE, especially at this landmark stage, to develop FNC’s bodies and work mechanisms of its committees, maintain strong links and contact with citizens across the country and interact with their issues, so that the council will be able to truly reflect the country’s development and people’s priorities and concerns.

More important is that all the outcomes of the previous stage need to be examined so as to learn from previous mistakes and build on it since the development is an integrated and gradual process, as part of the country’s ambitious plans to achieve its targets.

The UAE has moved from the establishment stage to the empowerment phase smoothly and perfectly. This was manifested in the Supreme Council’s election of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as President of the UAE after the departure of Shaikh Zayed, without waiting for the call for a session within a month of the date on which the office of president is vacant, as per Article 52 of constitution.

The move was taken during condolence ceremonies as stated by His Highness Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, during a TV interview.

In his first address to the nation as the new President, Shaikh Khalifa declared the beginning of the gradual empowerment stage, which marks a new phase of development and positive interaction and response to changes that pave the way for expanding the scope of public participation in the membership of the council, and keeping abreast with developments witnessed by UAE society.

Within this context, a qualitative development is needed in the parliamentary experience during the new decade of the federation’s life. This should start with deepening cooperation between the government and the FNC and promoting the culture of dialogue based on the values of participation, as well as enhancing the parliamentary culture and national feeling among younger generations.

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