On the image H.E. Saeed Ali Alnowais, Ambassador of the UAE with the UAE Delegation to OPCW and Ms. Dr. Alya Bukhater, Counsellor at the Embassy.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The Hague, 1st December 2017. On this day, H.E. Saeed Ali Alnowais gathered with hundreds of guest for the 46th anniversary of the UAE. The guests included colleagues, diplomats, Dutch governments representatives, representatives of the business community as well as friends and the diaspora. A pleasant atmosphere reigned at the Kurhaus Hotel.
H.E. Saeed Ali Alnowais, after welcoming the many guests expressed his gratitude for the excellent cooperation between the UAE and the Netherlands. Special thanks went to HM King Willem Alexander.
Ambassador Alnowais hailed the UAE Royal Family for the elevated level of wealth. He further touched on the humongous UAE achievements. A raffle with tickets to the Emirates and a lavish buffet was part of the program. Extracts of Ambassador Alnowais’ speech now follow.
“Thanks to you excellencies for your presence tonight, despite the heavy schedule participating in the OPCW meetings which coincides with our national day celebrations.
Dear guests, allow me to extend my greetings to the people and the government of the Netherlands, with our best wishes for the new Government. I would also like to seize this opportunity to express my respect and best wishes to His Majesty King William Alexander.
On December 2, 2017, the UAE celebrates its 46th National Day. This same day in 1971 marked the establishment of the Emirates, a union that has come to be a leading model of sustainable development, progress and growth in the region and beyond.
In September this tear, the United Arab Emirates has taken the first assertive steps towards being a major participant in the international maritime economic landscape, to reinstate and expand the glory of our ancestors when the sea was their livelihood and an open gate to trade with the world with the inauguration of the Hopper Dredger ARZANA, commissioned by the National Marine Dredging Company on behalf of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The UAE National Day is a glorious occasion for UAE citizens to celebrate their belonging to this land, and express their pride in the wise leadership of H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, as well as Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of Emirates.
UAE National Day is also about celebrating a leadership, which forever stands ready to invest in its people’s human capital, placing its citizens at the top of its priorities, to achieve distinction, stability and sustainable development. These political, economic, social and cultural achievements were accomplished, thanks to the vision of our wise leadership and the sustained efforts of Emiratis who have toiled to build the future of our nation.
On the national front, the UAE laid the foundations and rules of good governance, building strong and stable national institutions based on principles and standards of transparency and accountability, the rule of law and good citizenship, thus establishing an oasis of security, stability, modernity and tolerance.
Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was the first to lay the foundations for a comprehensive national strategy aimed at achieving well-being for citizens, by stressing that “our main goal is to provide a decent life for citizens, for they are the true wealth behind the present and the future of this country”. His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, assumed his father’s role to complete this strategy, and overcome its challenges with determination and willfulness.
The various plans and strategies announced and implemented over the past decade have florished. International rankings based on global standards and rigorous scientific approaches reflect these achievements. In the UNDP Human Development Report, the UAE ranked amongst the top countries with very high human development, excelling in regional and international indicators measuring people’s happiness, public satisfaction, security and stability, scoring high in the Social Progress Index. The citizen-centered vision laid forth by our wise leadership deemed citizens as a top priority in current and future development plans, for they are the real wealth of the country.
On the foreign front, the UAE’s foreign policy since its establishment in 1971 is grounded in wisdom, moderation, justice and advocacy, based on the principles of dialogue and understanding between brothers and friends, respect for international charters, adherence to the UN Charter, as well as respect for the rules of good neighbourliness, sovereignty and territorial integrity. The country has long adopted a foreign policy centred on peaceful resolution of disputes and non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs.
The United Arab Emirates approached the world with great openness. This resulted in the establishment of strategic political, economic and commercial partnerships as well as judicious and key partnerships in the fields of culture, sciences, education and healthcare with many countries across the world, thus enhancing its prestigious standing in the international community.
During “the 2015 Sustainable Development Summit” in New York, on the sidelines of the 70th Ordinary General Assembly, the UAE solemnly pledged “not to ignore any country lagging behind in the development process and to help the world move to a path that supports sustainability and flexibility”. Faithful to its pledge, its outstanding aid efforts have helped millions of people across continents, as it persists to implement the Millennium Development Goals and meet the objectives of the United Nations Development Plan 2030.
On this 46th National Day, I would like to extend warm congratulations to the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, as well as Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of Emirates, Their Highnesses the Crown Princes, the Government and the people of the UAE.
I would like to express my appreciations to Emirates Airlines and Etihad Airways who contribute to our economy, enhances tourism and act as prominent ambassadors for our country. I thank them for the continuous support they provide to our citizens and guests.
Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank our colleagues and staff at the Embassy and wish them many more celebrations to come.”
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Photography by the Embassy of UAE in The Hague.
