Shaikh Mohammad hails the Union's 40 years of achievement

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said that sound vision, long term determination and indomitable will have helped the UAE to attain the excellence and leadership in various fields. In a statement to Diraa Al Watan Magazine (Shield of The Nation) on the occasion of the UAE's 40th National Day Anniversary, he added that since the dawn of the second of December, 1971, the wheel of development outlined by the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the UAE people, had not stopped, since it is continued and sustained by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE people. "The celebration of our people of the National Day every year is accompanied by addition of new blocks to the structure of our prestigious country, not only by raising slogans, or adornment, or the suspension of work in the Ministries and national institutions, but through the celebration, we mark what we have achieved so far in the areas of human resources, urban development, culture, services, health and education", he said. Shaikh Mohammad stressed that as the UAE exhibits its success story that has impressed the world in terms of the achievements, the UAE people are working to build bridges with other peoples worldwide, out of their conviction in the importance of human relations among States and peoples, and their collective roles in the achievement of peace, justice and equality for all peoples worldwide. "Under the guidance and support of the UAE President, we have managed to move our national institutions to the stage of transparency, functionality, openness, and application of technology. We can now say that it has reached 90 per cent of the international standard. And we look forward to achieving100 per cent through the cooperation of everyone in the light of their enthusiasm for the country and national identity," he said. The Vice President reiterated that the National Day cherishes the noble national themes, notably, allegiance to the country and to its leadership that has delivered in the past and still works to provide security, stability and decent life for all citizens nationwide. Below is the full text of the statement: "Forty years of achievements have been made by our people and our country, which has clearly, as recognised by all, become a state of excellence, leading in various fields. This, of course, would not have come to pass without the sound vision and long-term determination and indomitable will, because the word impossible is no longer listed on the agenda of the UAE. Since the dawn of the second of December 1971, the wheel of development commenced by the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the people of the UAE people has not stopped as it has been continued and sustained by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE people in all work locations and production facilities. This strenuous work has led to our prosperous future through the translation of the achievements into reality on the ground, to enable the coming Emirati generations to reap the fruits. We will leave to coming generations the promising national, cultural and human heritage, which is not easy to neglect, because it is in the core of the memory of our people. Everyone must revive this memory through the celebration of our national occasions, especially the National Day. This day cherishes the noble national themes, notably, the allegiance to the country and its leadership that has delivered in the past and still works to provide security, stability and decent life for all our people across our dear homeland. The celebration of our people of the National Day every year is accompanied with addition of new block or blocks to the structure of our prestigious country, not only by raising slogans, or adornment, or suspension of work in the Ministries and national institutions, but through the celebration, we mark what we have achieved so far in the areas of human resources, urban development, culture, services, health and education. All these achievements are employed in the service of citizens, because the country is not only the high-rise buildings, but also stable and educated citizens, able to protect their homeland, preserve the reputation and achievements and gains of the country.