The Emirates are still united, 44 years later

After a difficult year for the UAE, our sense of unity is the fulfilment of Sheikh Zayed’s dream

Ahmed Al Mansouri has decorated his car to celebrate the 44th National Day. Mona Al Marzooqi/ The National

What would Sheikh Zayed make of the present-day UAE, 44 years after his skills at negotiation led to the federation of a collection of disparate and independent emirates? One suspects that while he would be saddened by the losses our military has suffered in Yemen and applaud our soldiers’ bravery, he would approve of the country’s intervention on behalf of a fellow Arab country in its time of need. More than anything, he would feel pride for the way our fallen heroes have bolstered the UAE’s sense of being one family.

This has undoubtedly been a difficult year for a young country but it is the sense of strengthened unity that has emerged that we believe would have been particularly appreciated by the country’s founding father. In more than 30 years as the first President, he set a strong example about the values on which the federation should develop. There is much for which we should all – Emiratis and the large expatriate population alike – feel proud of the way our country has continued to thrive.

The soaring modern metropolises of the main cities, to cite just one example, are a world away from the difficult conditions that prevailed through most of the country in 1971. Sheikh Zayed’s firm belief that investing in our people was the most important use of the country’s oil revenues means Emiratis now stand proudly astride the world stage.

Joining the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen to restore the internationally-recognised government has shown our belief in the use of force only when all other options have failed. But it is the UAE’s so-called soft power – by being an example in the midst of a turbulent region to show it is possible to retain stability and prosperity without losing core values of tolerance and respect of others’ faiths – that stands as an achievement for which we should all be especially proud. The way the UAE consistently comes top of the list of countries in which most Arabs would like to live and work is a testament to the application of these values.

However even with all these significant achievements, it is the feeling of unity among the seven emirates that has emerged from the difficulties this year that ought to warrant special commendation. Time and again in reports about our fallen heroes in Yemen, the phrase “one family” has emerged to describe our country. This is the culmination of decades of work and is the true legacy of Sheikh Zayed’s vision.

As he would have said all those years ago to the rulers of Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, we are better off standing as one to meet the challenges of the future. That is as true now in the context of the complicated modern world as it was then, with the British withdrawing the protection they had provided to the Trucial States since the 19th century. That unity applies not just to challenges but also to opportunities, such as hosting Expo 2020 and launching a mission to Mars.

As we also know, Sheikh Zayed’s ambition for the UAE was even grander than the country we live in today, with attempts to convince Bahrain and Qatar to be part of the new federation failing to reach fruition. Instead, the three countries each retain their own sovereignty but also enjoy the benefits of a different form of alliance through the Gulf Cooperation Council, alongside Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman.

Even now, each of the emirates stands distinct from the others in the union. This is how it should be, since the idea was never to eliminate these differences and replace them with a bland homogeneity.

But as the events in Yemen this year and previous difficulties over the last 44 years have demonstrated, when it really matters, this is one country and one family. We speak with one voice and when one son falls, it is a loss felt deeply by us all. Sheikh Zayed’s beneficial legacy continues to be felt strongly, but on this we cannot help thinking he would be especially proud.