Mohammad exhorts citizens to make history

Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, made a passionate call for hard work to make the future history of the federation while addressing citizens on the 36th National Day.

He said 36 years of union have become equivalent to hundreds of years which several nations have taken to achieve progress and development.

However, he asked the citizens not to sleep on the soft silk of success, but to work hard to make the future history of the country.

Achievement

"Whatever we achieved in the past has been achieved. The history we will write is what we will achieve in the future, not what we have achieved in the past," said Shaikh Mohammad.

The following is the full text of his National Day message: "Dear sons and daughters of my motherland, Praise be to Allah who gave us the guidance, wisdom and prudence, and blessed us to work to His pleasure, in the best interests of our people and the glory of our nation.

"Praise be to Allah who gave us the unity and enabled us to build our young country, ensuring prosperity for the sons and daughters of our motherland.

"As we celebrate today the 36th National Day anniversary, in the presence of the founding fathers, we see their faces shine with satisfaction and optimism, their eyes gleaming with happiness. The edifice which they have founded grows bigger in strength and glory. The human being whom they have brought up grows stronger in knowledge and self-confidence. The federation which they have set up becomes more deeply-rooted, mature and generous.

Moving ahead

"Thirty-six years; how short a period it is! In the progression of history, it is a short span of time. It elapsed without making any footprints in the lives of many human societies and nations, or without leaving behind many memories to cherish.

"But these years, in the history of United Arab Emirates, were distinguished with the colossal achievements they realised, with intimate memories and success.

"Those were the years of making, giving, achieving and constant looking into the future. They were also the years of tireless endeavour to reach the ultimate in every avenue.

"Those were the years Shaikh Zayed and Shaikh Rashid had set the clock to make a new history characterised by their dreams, visions, efforts and wisdom. They founded the pillars on deeply-rooted foundations and continued to build on those pillars day and night. They paved the way for the nation to move ahead from the most humble phases of growth into one of the most magnificent models in modern times.

"We will move ahead entrusting ourselves on Almighty and putting into practice the national work programme given by the leader of our march and the symbol of our nation, our elder brother President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. May Allah bless him with success."