Faisal Bin Sultan Al Qasimi speaks of his experiences

Abu Dhabi: Emiratis are ready to serve and sacrifice everything for their nation.

The remarks were made by Shaikh Faisal Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, former Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, during an interview conducted by Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Armed Forces unification.

Shaikh Faisal said that he is immensely proud to be one of the founders and the first generation that served in the UAE Armed Forces. Recalling his journey, Shaikh Faisal said that he joined the Trucial Oman Scouts in 1954, when he was 14 years old. He was moved to a nominee course in Jordan in December 1955, and graduated in 1956. Following the completion of various other courses in Jordan, Shaikh Faisal returned to the UAE and joined the Trucial Oman Scouts. He was transferred to Al Saria in Al Ain, and that’s where he met Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Shaikh Faisal went on to complete a number of military training courses in both the UK and Ireland, eventually returning to the UAE and serving as a trainer at a centre in Al Manama.

Shaikh Faisal pointed out that he was approached by Shaikh Zayed before the UAE was founded in 1971. “Shaikh Zayed told me that the UAE wants me, and asked me to leave the British in a peaceful way,” recalled Shaikh Faisal. Shaikh Zayed later asked Shaikh Faisal to accompany President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who used to serve as the Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region.

Shaikh Faisal pointed out that before the unification every emirate had its own force, such as Dubai’s Defence Force and Sharjah’s National Guards. He added that a committee was formed, and its members were officers from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan who inspected all forces in the emirates before the unification.

Shaikh Faisal said that only four months following the unification, the UAE dispatched capable forces to Syria in order to ensure security in Lebanon.