Commitment brings achievement

DUBAI // Understanding their history and witnessing present-day achievements were part of the memories Emirati students took away on day two of their Journey of the Union.

The fountains outside the Burj Khalifa were turned on in the afternoon, instead of the usual evening timing, to mark the students’ visit yesterday.

“We played the fountain specially for our special guests,” said Ahmad Al Falasi, executive director of Emaar Properties, who spoke to the students about the history of the tower and about Dubai Mall. “We talked to them about looking for the next big achievement, the next big challenge for the country.

“Sheikh Mohammed has said the sky has no limit, so whatever we wish can be done if we have the commitment in ourselves and we want to make our leaders and the country proud.”

Clicking pictures, taking videos at the observation deck of the Burj Khalifa and watching the fountains was a highlight for most of the 28 pupils.

Earlier, they stopped at the Al Ahmadiya School and Heritage House, which was established in 1912, making it the first regular school in Dubai.

Located in the Al-Ras area of Deira, the school has a wind tower and a large courtyard, while some parts of the two-storey building date to the 1890s.

“We saw how students studied in the past, the materials they used, how the school looked,” said Fatima Al Salami, 15, from Dubai.

“Going to Al Ahmadiya was very interesting to learn about our culture and the past and to understand how schools have changed.”

Learning how pupils were taught maths, languages and religious studies was also absorbed by the group.

“We saw how they learnt the holy Quran, Arabic and also maths was very interesting,” said Maitha Musaebbh, 16, from Al Ain.

The students rounded off their tour with a visit to the redeveloped Bastakiya area of Bur Dubai, which is home to art galleries, a fort, old office buildings and a museum.

Ali Saif Shawi, 16, from Umm Al Quwain, said the visits helped them to understand the nation’s heritage.

“We took a lot of pictures because it was very interesting to see life in earlier times,” he said.

“There is so much about our culture that we are learning.”