Military and Strategic Journal Issued by the Directorate of Morale Guidance at the General Command of the Armed Forces United Arab Emirates Founded in August 1971
The speech of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, may God protect him, addressed to the people of the UAE, outlined his strategic vision to continue the sustainable development process during the next stage. The speech was a road map that detailed the UAE’s domestic and foreign policies and reflected His Highness’ profound vision that revealed the present and future plans.
On July 13, Sheikh Mohamed gave a comprehensive speech, the first since he assumed the presidency on May 14. The speech included several points and featured a clear and direct style. It reflected His Highness’ thoughts, directions and personality traits in a clear and direct discourse that settles in the hearts before it reaches the minds.
In His Highness’ speech, he first eulogised the “father leader”, “the one with the big heart”, and “the wise teacher”, documenting a testimony of the late great leader’s good performance of the trust that he carried sincerely and wisely throughout his reign. He referred to the late leader’s legacy of giving to the people of the region and the world. This successful presidential start provides a role model for generations and entrenches the UAE’s governance and leadership principles. There is no interruption or denial of the efforts of the predecessors, nor is there any reduction of the rights of all those who served the country with dedication and enthusiasm. This is the lesson the President was keen to teach the new generations in the country’s various sectors and fields of work.
The value of loyalty in the speech of His Highness does not only lie in documenting the late president’s role in building and leading the nation but also involves loyalty to the people of the UAE. The speech embodied the nature of the strong relationship and close ties that have bound him and the people of the UAE together for many years. His Highness has an unrivalled place in the hearts of all the UAE people. This loyalty is also shown in the role of expats living in the UAE. He is always keen to appreciate the contributions of residents, stressing that the UAE is their second country and that His Highness appreciates their contributions to construction and development since the establishment of the UAE.
The speech focused on the general approach of the policy and philosophy to be followed by His Highness in managing the country’s affairs. In this regard, His Highness said, “We will keep following their (the founding leaders’) approach, wisdom and vision, God willing.” He added, “We learn lessons from them in leadership… Our history, identity and cultural heritage will always be an essential part of our plans for the future.”
The speech of His Highness contained important lessons that can be learnt and employed in the development experiences of other countries. The most notable of these lessons is that the development process should be comprehensive and continuous. It should parallel various economic, social and political aspects and sectors. Second, development is a continuous process that never stops. No matter how many developmental achievements and successes countries achieve, they must aspire to add new building blocks to accumulate success and achievements, sustain growth, secure the future of the coming generations and ensure their prosperity.
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