Yesterday marked the 15th anniversary of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid becoming Ruler of Dubai and, shortly afterwards, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. It is a fitting occasion to reflect on his roles at the helm of the country’s most populous emirate and in Cabinet.
In his anniversary letter, published on Sunday, Sheikh Mohammed summarises the approach taken by what has become one the most dynamic nations in the world. The letter extends Sheikh Mohammed's thanks to various close friends, as well as to the wider nation. Friendship, he notes, forms part of the foundation of the UAE’s greatness.
Early on in the letter, Sheikh Mohammed mentions Vision 2021, which was formulated in 2009. Such initiatives are a fitting introduction to the past 15 years' annual stream of projects, reforms and new laws. The ambition is unambiguous, centred on the target of making the UAE "one of the best countries in the world". Sheikh Mohammed references the many individual efforts which continue to work towards this goal, including the introduction of more than 50 laws to keep pace with society's current and future needs. Similarly, recent legal reforms include increasing the ease at which foreign residents can make a home in the country, formally allowing inheritance to be distributed according to one's country of origin, as well as allowing divorces to be processed under the legal system of a resident's home country, among others.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid presents United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan with the Zayed International Prize for the Environment in Dubai in February 2006, one month after he was named prime minister and vice president of the UAE. AFP
President Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid arrive for the inauguration of the National Federal Council on 12 February 2007 in Abu Dhabi. The semi-elected chamber is a consultative body that debates policies and makes recommendations to the government. AFP
Sheikh Mohammed and his brother Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid meets with Lt Gen Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, chief of Dubai Police, at Zabeel Palace in Dubai on September 30, 2008 on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha. AFP
Sheikh Mohammed shakes hands with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II during a meeting in Windsor Castle in London on November 23, 2009. AFP
Sheikh Mohammed disembarks an Emirates A380 during a media tour of Dubai's new second airport, Dubai World Central, on July 1, 2010. AFP
Sheikh Mohammed with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz at the sidelines of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit meeting in Riyadh on December 19, 2011. Saudi Press Agency
Sheikh Mohammed welcomes Sultan Qaboos bin Said as the Omani leader arrives at Dubai International Airport on October 22, 2012. Wam
Sheikh Mohammed salutes the crowd near Dubai's Burj Khalifa as the country marks on December 1, 2013. AFP
Sheikh Mohammed spins the golden whip as he celebrates after his horse African Story won the Dubai World Cup on March 29, 2014. AFP
The Dubai Ruler speaks among engineers and scientists during a ceremony to unveil UAE's Mars Mission on May 6, 2015 in Dubai. AFP
Sheikh Mohammed meets US Vice President Joe Biden in Dubai, on March 8, 2016. WAM
Jordan's King Abdullah II talks with Sheikh Mohammed during a welcome ceremony at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman on March 28, 2017 ahead of talks on the eve of the Arab League summit. AFP
British teacher Andria Zafirakou receives the Global Teacher Prize from Sheikh Mohammed at an award ceremony in Dubai on March 18, 2018. AFP
Sheikh Mohammed greets Pope Francis as the pontiff arrives at the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi on 4 February 2019. Getty
Sheikh Mohammed speaks to UAE Armed Forces personnel who served in Yemen at Zayed Military City in Abu Dhabi, February 9, 2020. MOPA
95 per cent of UAE residents report feeling safe
About 2,500 government services have transferred into smart systems, again intended to ease the lives of all those living in the UAE and boost government efficiency. Sheikh Mohammed draws on statistics from the 130 per cent increase in the federal budget, to over $2 billion of state funding for research and development. Other paths to a more dynamic future include last year's expansion of the Golden Visa scheme, intended to attract talented people and their families from around the globe, with the goal of strengthening and diversifying the economic future of the UAE.
The measures seem to be working. For example, 95 per cent of UAE residents report feeling safe, and the country now has the second largest economy in the Arab world.
In terms of Sheikh Mohammed's specific achievements in the emirate of Dubai, a diverse economy focused on global industries such as tourism and aviation boosts the soft power and international profile of the country as a whole. These, along with, for example, Dubai's financial sector, have helped maintain the Emirates’ prosperity throughout last year's difficulties.
While Sheikh Mohammed dedicates parts of the letter to these local achievements, they are tied into the wider success of Emirati unity and collective identity. He talks of his partnership – and fraternal bonds – with leaders from other emirates, particularly with his "friend, companion, supporter and leader", Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
The past year was a difficult one. It is plain that with some of the best testing rates internationally, as well as swifter and less economically harmful lockdowns, the UAE has had a less damaging pandemic than many other developed countries. It is fitting, therefore, that as vaccinations spell the beginning of the end of Covid-19, the nation reflects on central players in the UAE's success, such as we do today on the occasion of 15 years of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid’s leadership.
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023 More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
May 15: Yokohama, Japan
June 5: Leeds, UK
June 24: Montreal, Canada
July 10: Hamburg, Germany
Aug 17-22: Edmonton, Canada (World Triathlon Championship Final)
Nov 5-6 : Abu Dhabi, UAE
Date TBC: Chengdu, China
The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades.
“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.
"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."
This is then injected into the body.
"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.
"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."
The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.
Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.
“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.
