With the vision and leadership of Mohammed bin Zayed, the Armed Forces will remain the impregnable fortress of a nation whose approach is peace and whose goal is leadership

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, delivered a speech on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the unification of the Armed Forces, in which he praised its honorable national roles, and the giving and sacrifices of its heroes over five decades of giving, in which they raised the name of the UAE high, and formed the impregnable fortress that preserved the nation’s magnificence, and preserved its dignity and pride.

Below is the text of the speech:

“We gather today to celebrate the golden jubilee of the issuance of the decision to unify the UAE Armed Forces.

More than ever before, the importance of this decision is evident today, which launched the process of building the nation’s shield, its mighty sword, and the umbrella of its security and stability. As I have had the honor of accompanying this process from its beginnings, a series of memories pass through my mind of preparing for the issuance of the resolution, the overwhelming joy in its issuance, following up on its implementation, and participating in the process of building our armed forces over the past fifty years.

The vision was clear and the goals were specific

After the decision was issued on May 6, 1976, I remember the details of the first meeting of the Supreme Defense Council, headed by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and in the presence of Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, may God bless them all, and I was Minister of Defense at the time.

Sheikh Zayed told us: “We will build a modern army with the people of the Emirates at its core to ensure the ability to defend our homeland and confront threats, whatever their source. He said: We will provide our army with the best types of weapons, diversify the sources of armament, and build military industries that keep pace with the needs of our army.”

Guided by this vision, we developed plans and launched workshops in which the training programs for our Emirati military cadres went hand in hand with the armament and defense industries programs.

The wills united to lay the first building blocks in the edifice of a union that chose from its very beginnings, and even since it was within the framework of the idea, to be resistant to challenges and impervious to difficulties. Since the birth of the UAE, the saga of tireless work has not stopped to lay and consolidate the foundations that guarantee this young country the highest levels of pride and majesty. The decision to unify the armed forces came as one of the main chapters of this honorable saga of a nation that chose to secure its future with the unity of its decisions and the solidity of its structure.

This historic decision came as a result of a long-term strategic vision that anticipated the requirements of building a modern state. It gathered energies under one banner and mobilized all capabilities to build armed forces that combined the elements of strength, making it the holder of a notable role in consolidating the foundations of the Union and preserving its path over five decades, during which the UAE proceeded with all confidence and steadfastness in various development fields to guarantee its people elevation and sophistication in an environment that ensures for them, and for everyone who comes to it carrying ambition and hope for the future. Best, security and stability feature.

The features of the national military institution were shaped according to fundamental principles and values ​​of discipline, competence, and loyalty. With the successive years, this march did not stop at any borders, but rather proceeded at a rapid pace towards development and modernization, until our armed forces became an advanced model in the level of readiness and familiarity with the latest developments in the world in the field of defense, continuing to confirm its position as a symbol of pride and pride for every Emirati man and woman, and a source of inspiration in the field of dedication and giving to bring the nation to the highest levels of sophistication and prosperity.

Over the course of 50 years, the chapters of this national epic have continued with an ambitious vision with which my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, led a comprehensive development process that affected all branches and sectors of the armed forces, based on a firm belief that possessing a force capable of deterrence is a strategic priority that should not be neglected… which was achieved by investing in the human element, enhancing its scientific and practical capabilities, and granting it the sciences and knowledge that make it a pivotal pillar of the nation’s security. And the citizen, as well as investing in owning the reins of field superiority by acquiring the latest equipment and mastering the use of the best technologies, which gives our armed forces the upper hand in confronting anyone who dares to try to undermine the security and stability of the nation.

This comprehensive forward-looking vision has contributed to the establishment of an integrated defense system that combines high field efficiency and technical excellence, which has placed our armed forces among the most efficient military institutions in the world as a direct result of conscious planning and careful preparation for various scenarios, which was clearly reflected in the honorable field performance, which won the world’s admiration and appreciation, with our armed forces demonstrating qualitative superiority in carrying out their duties and carrying out the various tasks entrusted to them with full competence and ability.

We stand on this occasion, and with us the people of the Emirates, to offer a tribute of pride and appreciation to the members of our armed forces and security services, and the youth of the national and reserve service, for the highest levels of commitment and discipline they embody… and with all dedication and bravery, and a willingness to sacrifice what is dear and valuable, and for the inspiring model of giving that reflects a solid military doctrine, the basis of which is loyalty to the homeland, devotion to its leadership, belonging to its people, and constant readiness to defend… His gains.

In light of the rapid events that the region has witnessed over the past weeks, the role of our armed forces has emerged as a pivotal pillar in preserving the security and stability of the state, and dealing with all forms of challenges with high efficiency and strategic awareness. It served as a solid shield that faced with all courage and courage the repercussions of these transformations, confirming the blessing of security and safety enjoyed by the Emirates and everyone who lives on its land, which will, God willing, remain one of the most important blessings that the Almighty has bestowed on our dear homeland. This distinguished him in a changing regional and international environment.

In parallel with its defensive role, our armed forces embodied the humanitarian values ​​of the UAE, through their active participation in humanitarian missions and peacekeeping operations, and were present to help and support in times of adversity and adversity, opening windows of hope for those stranded in various regions of the world. It was present in the fields of giving, extending a helping hand and alleviating the suffering of those affected, stressing that the UAE’s message transcends the boundaries of geography, and carries at its core meanings of human solidarity and global responsibility.

Five decades during which the UAE did not stop innovating. Rather, it ran a race against time to build and consolidate the foundations of the union. The decision to unify the armed forces was the spark from which the flame of development was kindled to build a defense base that has the elements of excellence and helps our armed forces achieve the desired field superiority. The hand of development extended to adopt a defense industry that, in a short period of time, became one of the tributaries of the nation’s strength. Rather, it succeeded in carving out for itself a prominent competitive position in this field on a global level, with a growing presence in the markets. International, supported by a strategic vision based on innovation, knowledge and qualitative partnerships.

On this occasion, we cannot fail to remember with all reverence and appreciation the sacrifices of the nation’s righteous martyrs, who wrote with letters of light immortal pages in the epic of building a nation whose heroism will be immortalized in its memory and conscience. They sacrificed their lives in defense of the truth and raising the flag of the Union. Their giving was a sign of redemption, a source of inspiration for generations, and a renewed pledge that the Emirates would remain dear, invincible, and proud at all times.

The UAE’s commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the unification of its armed forces is an affirmation of the continuation of the process with confidence and stability, under a wise leadership that trusts that the future of the UAE is shaped by the giving of its people and their ability to consolidate the elements of its progress and prosperity, and believes that the nation’s supremacy is a trust whose fulfillment cannot be relinquished and that it reaches the heights of glory, and that protecting its gains is a responsibility that it does not hesitate to bear.

As we enter a new phase of national action, our armed forces remain an essential pillar in preserving the present and building bridges of safe crossing to the future, and a renewed chapter in the story of a nation that is advancing in the race of excellence with unfailing determination, relentless persistence, and endless ambition, and through its heroism and inexhaustible giving, it remains the impregnable fortress of a nation whose approach is peace and whose goal is leadership.”