Optimism over bright future

Dubai: Some excerpts from the book, My Vision - Challenges in the Race for Excellence, written by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai:

"What saddens me the most is the status of the Arab nation, but optimism about a bright future takes the edge off this sadness, making it just a passing cloud.

"What brings Arabs together is more than what divides them while there are other nations whose differences are much bigger, yet they are on their way towards integration. The Arabs are supposed to be one bloc, but we will never achieve this if small matters take priority over major ones," Shaikh Mohammad said.

"The crisis of Arabs does not lie in lack of human and financial resources or morals, but is a crisis of leadership, management and selfishness.

"I am proud of my religion, my nation and the founders of the UAE and all the UAE and Arab people. Our distinguished experience in the UAE is a model of what can be achieved when God blesses a nation with a leadership that places the interests of people above all other considerations.

"Our vision and our goals are clear We have the potential and the firm will to make Dubai an international hub for excellence, creativity and distinction. We want Dubai to be the world's first city for trade, tourism and services in the 21st century."