Dubai: This year the UAE witnessed a string of colossal events, the most salient of which was its 40th anniversary.
The 40th National Day evoked unprecedented excitement and pride across the nation. Most houses, high-rise towers and cars, as well as people, flew the national flag and had decorations in UAE colours.
Emiratis celebrated with pride the bright idea that flashed through the mind of a visionary leader, which became a reality 40 years ago and continues to shine today, lighting the way for an advanced economic and political powerhouse — the UAE.
On December 2, 1971, a federation of six emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah) formed the United Arab Emirates. Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan was elected president and Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum was elected vice-president. Ras Al Khaimah decided to join the federation officially on February 10, 1972.
Achievements
Looking at the past 40 years, Emiratis sought strength and persistence to continue marching ahead, inspired by greater faith in the unity that led to their advancement and achievement of their aspirations.
The country's achievements were the result of efforts of great and loyal men, and today's leaders are maintaining the successes and achievements in a fast-paced world of fierce competition.
Shaikh Zayed's desire was that young Emiratis should always remember the difficult beginnings and, therefore, bear the collective responsibility to work towards preserving and taking forward his vision. This is being carried through by the new generation of leadership.
A fortnight later, another major milestone in the history of the country was marked — the 250th anniversary of the foundation of Abu Dhabi in 1761.
The legend goes that a group of hunters from Liwa followed the tracks of a gazelle which crossed a shallow creek to a nearby island, apparently to quench its thirst at a small spring there.
The hunters reported back to Shaikh Diab Bin Eisa, who ordered a settlement be built there, and declared that the name of the island should be Abu Dhabi — father of the gazelle.
Shaikh Diab did not move to Abu Dhabi. His son and successor, Shaikh Shakhbout, was the first ruler to do so in 1795.
Voting
Earlier in November, President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Emirates opened the 15th legislative chapter of the Federal National Council. Shaikh Khalifa vowed to move forward to achieve the aspirations of the people in a homeland that everyone would be proud to live in and belong to, because empowerment is the spirit of the Union.
In September, the UAE was swept by celebrations after an historic election saw 20 new members elected to the FNC.
Emirati voters from an electoral college of 130,000 turned out to cast ballots at polling centres across the country.
"We are taking steady steps," His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, told reporters as he toured a polling station in Dubai: "By God's will, we will continue progress and [expand] the powers of the Federal National Council."
Euphoria
Shaikh Mohammad also spoke favourably of women candidates.
"I've said in the past that women are the soul of the place, and today I say that women are the place of the soul of the homeland," he said.
Abu Dhabi and Dubai elected four members each, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah three each, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain two each.
Umm Al Quwain this time took the lead to elect the first woman member, Shaikha Al Ari.
During the last elections in 2006, Abu Dhabi was the first and only emirate to send a woman candidate to the council.
The polling stations saw scenes of euphoria and celebrations, as young and old joined together to make the country's largest election process a memorable moment.
