We are a young nation, but 47 years old. And we are a nation that has always advanced, made steady progressed, meeting the challenges of the present and the future with relish. But when others look at our success and wonder why, the answer lies in our people — our youth. Yes, we are blessed by the presence of oil to assist with our success, but it is the young people of this nation who truly are our best natural resource.
These decades of our march of progress have seen changes and developments that are indeed dizzying, hard-to-comprehend sources of wonderment. But because of our young minds and their can-do attitude, the UAE has expanded and thrived, and continues to face the future with confidence.
The leadership of this nation, right from the very first days of its infancy, has placed great confidence in the ability of the youth to carry forward the work of nation-building, laying the foundations of progress, establishing a path to success. And they have used that endowment to continue to break new ground in every societal and technological field. It is the confidence of the youth that allows the UAE to fulfil its dreams of reaching for the stars, setting a path into orbit in the International Space Station, putting satellites into the skies.
It is our youth that embraces the opportunities and rewards offered by new technologies that are being developed at even greater speeds than ever before. Whether it be in the fields of artificial intelligence, the internet of everything (IoE), developing 5G technologies, harnessing the collaborative computing power of the many, or using technologies to benefit us all in every aspect of our daily lives — these changes are being brought about by the young people of this nation. The UAE’s youth are transforming the very way we do business and trade — not from dhows but over smartphones.
Indeed it is the youth of this nation that look at an issue and see solutions where others see problems. It is our bright young minds that research and examine, think critically, reason logically, thereby enabling our hospitals, universities and educational facilities to engage in cutting-edge research to bring about advances in medicine, agriculture, environment, pharmaceuticals and medical sciences.
This nation is nearing completion of a nuclear station that will power homes, schools, factories and offices and will provide an engineering opportunity unique in this region for our young researchers and their understanding of subatomic particles. Right now, the best of this nation’s youth is on display at the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Majlis for Future Generations in Abu Dhabi — and that indeed confirms that UAE is truly blessed.
