Khalifa lauds Mohammad's vision

Al Ain: President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Sunday received at Al Rawda Palace His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Shaikh Mohammad presented the first copy of his book, My Vision Challenges in the Race for Excellence, to Shaikh Khalifa, in the presence of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Shaikh Khalifa praised the book in which Shaikh Mohammad has laid down his vision on the development strategy, which is based on achieving excellence to further enhance the UAE's position on the world stage.

In the foreword, Shaikh Mohammad dedicated the book to Shaikh Khalifa: "To my brother Shaikh Khalifa, to honour your tremendous efforts in continuing the development initiatives of our predecessors who have built a great nation which reflects their deep sentiments towards the country.

"We are with you and we will always support your wise leadership."

The book will be distributed in the UAE and it will also be published in other Gulf and Arab countries subsequently.

The Dubai-based Motivate Publishing and the Arab Institute for Research and Publication based in Beirut, are the co-publishers of the book.

It is a detailed account of the exceptional development of Dubai and the vision behind the outstanding accomplishments that included transforming the UAE and Dubai from their role as regional powerhouses to their new and advanced role as international economic and financial centres and the attainment of these high rates of growth which were accomplished in providing excellence in services and industry.

One of the most important features of the book, the co-publishers noted, is the simplicity with which the author approaches complex subjects such as vision, leadership, state management, enhancement of skills and expertise in human resources that played a paramount role in constantly pushing the development in Dubai to new heights.

"Dubai is proving to be one of the most successful development stories in the world and is viewed increasingly in the Arab and Muslim Worlds as a source of pride."

Compared to Cordoba, the old capital of Arab Spain, Dubai's melting pot of nations and creeds is adding new and exciting dimensions to the concept of co-existence and enhancing human interaction and understanding. And like Cordoba, Dubai today is providing a new hope for humanity that different civilisations and religions can co-exist and strive collectively to create excellence.

The author not only addresses the people of Dubai and the Emirates but the entire Arab and Muslim world of 1.3 billion. The success story of Dubai, he believes, can be replicated in other Arab and Muslim countries.

The book, therefore, represents a message of optimism that a second stage of outstanding development can be achieved throughout the Arab and Muslim World. The proof he provides is Dubai itself.

The book contains 13 chapters in five parts. The English version is to be published soon.