Fujairah: His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, inaugurated the Fujairah naval base on the UAE’s east coast with the aim of ensuring safe and quick passage for oil exports.
The site for the naval base was selected in the emirate of Fujairah due to its important strategic location, which links the country to the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
Upon his arrival, Shaikh Hamad was welcomed by Lieutenant General Hamad Mohammad Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, shaikhs and senior military officials.
Shaikh Hamad inspected the naval guard of honour as the national anthem played in the background.
The commander of the naval base said that it is one of the edifices of the country’s armed forces in Fujairah and will add another building block to the development of the armed forces in general and naval forces in particular
He said that the strategic importance enjoyed by Fujairah drew the attention of the country’s wise leadership to establish a military naval base near the Strait of Hormuz, which has great strategic importance.
Wise leadership
This will play a major role in the strategic defence of the land and waters of the country under the wise leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
This base will also provide a quick response to natural and man-made disasters that may occur at sea, in addition to its main mission of ensuring global maritime navigation, as well as of ensuring safe, quick passage for its oil exports to serve the country’s supreme interests.
He thanked Shaikh Hamad for opening the naval base and stressed that it reflected his keen support for the armed forces.
After greeting officers, the Ruler unveiled the plaque announcing the opening of the naval base.
Then he toured the base accompanied by the chief of staff and other officers.
