This is the quintessential question that every resident of the United Arab Emirates must have asked or answered a million times. There are so many reasons to love and celebrate the UAE. Yet it is deep, personal, and special for every single person who has ever stepped into the sands of this great nation. We are spoilt for a choice of reasons to love this great nation.
200 nationalities reside here, and they all call this country ‘home’. There isn’t another place on this earth that has the world in its womb. She carries human beings from over 200 countries, right here in her heart. There isn’t another place on this earth that can claim to be more multicultural than this land of diversity because of its incredibly high number of expats.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai said, “When we promise, we deliver. We all have dreams but only a leader can change this dream into reality. We all take risks in life, but do you know what is the biggest risk? Not taking risks at all.” UAE has a vision and it delivers the vision with the highest values and norms.
Broaden Your Horizons right here in the UAE
In the olden days, people used to take a gap year and travel all around the world to gain knowledge and immerse themselves in various cultures to discover hidden nuances of one’s personality. The way I see it, all you need to do now, is take a ticket to Dubai. Walk around the streets of Bur Dubai, Al Bastakiya, Deira, Satwa, and Sheikh Zayed Road.
Stroll around Al Majaz Waterfront and Rolla Square. Travel by bus to Abu Dhabi. Hike in Hatta. Go on an adventure and hit the trails on Jebal Jaiz. Explore UAQ, Ajman, Fujairah and RAK. Talk to people from different countries and societies. There, you have unearthed the cultural and individual treasures of almost all the countries in the world.
As we mark the 50th year of a nation which was born in 1971, every single day hundreds of dreams come true in this land of sun, sand, and seas. UAE makes the impossible possible. Each day is brimming with new experiences by ‘Connecting Minds and Creating the Future’ at the ongoing Expo 2020 Dubai.
The ‘Projects of the 50’ is planned for the next 50 years for UAE, ahead of the 50th National Day celebrations in December, and aim to ensure a sustainable future for the nation and its residents. UAE’s ambitions in planning stages may seem lofty, yet when delivered, it becomes, ‘World’s fastest, tallest, largest, biggest!’
There isn’t another place that can touch Mars and hold the name of hope, ‘Misbar Al Amal’, amid even the darkest, hardest times. Millions see their hopes turn to reality when they improve their earnings, progress in their career, and improve their quality of life. The era of long-term residency began in the United Arab Emirates and expats have the opportunity to stay longer and continue to invest here.
For second-generation expats like me, UAE is always our ‘home of heart.’ Our hearts swell with pride as we listen to ‘Ishy Biladi’, which takes us back to our morning assembly on our school grounds in Garhoud in the 1990s.
There isn’t another place/On this earth, that can make me feel/Like my childhood is still in my palms/I saw my world begin here/I see my life being built here/I see a future that’s golden.
We are the children of this sun
This sand, the sea and the sky
We are the Children of the UAE
A bond of heart more than roots!
Feby Imthias is a writer based in Abu Dhabi and author of the book, Children of the Sun, Sand and Seas. Twitter: @Feby_Imthias
