ABU DHABI // Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, paid tribute on Sunday to the leadership and achievements of Sheikh Khalifa to mark the 10th anniversary of his Presidency.
The President’s decade at the helm had been characterised by wisdom, vision, fast development and great achievements, Sheikh Mohammed said.
He said Sheikh Khalifa’s influence could not be measured by statistics, by international reports or by the size of the budgets dedicated to bettering the life of citizens.
The President’s rule should instead be measured by the aid provided to other countries in times of need, to the crises he had mitigated and the number of refugees he had sheltered.
“I personally believe that the effect of Khalifa’s decade should be counted in the number of hearts he has won over, by the number of prayers sent to Allah to guard and protect him, and by the love that has naturally grown for him, without ever being sought,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“I prefer to measure Khalifa’s 10 years by the amount of happiness that he has infused in people’s hearts, at home and abroad. I measure it by the laughter of the orphaned children whom he has sponsored.
“I measure it by the prayers of widowed mothers in families who have lost their provider, but found a livelihood through Khalifa’s generosity.
“I measure Khalifa’s years by the magnitude of change that he has brought to millions of lives around the globe.”
Sheikh Mohammed also praised Sheikh Khalifa’s support for the youth of the nation.
“I measure Khalifa’s years by the gleams of joy that I see in the eyes of our young graduates. I measure them by the intensity of pride that I sense in our young Emirati women,” he said.
“I measure them by the feelings of trust shining through from our engineers and doctors who have graduated from the best universities. I measure them by the feelings of loyalty that are in the air everywhere in our country.
“I measure them by the daily expressions of gratitude from Emiratis to their leader, who has always worked relentlessly to make his people the happiest in the world.
“It is easy to rule through fear, but it takes a rare leader to rule through love.”
Chairing a meeting of the Cabinet at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed also marked the occasion by announcing the formation of the National Innovation Committee, which aims to ensure the UAE is among the most innovative nations in the world in time for the Golden Jubilee of the Union in 2021.
The committee will bring under its umbrella a number of federal government entities to monitor the implementation of the National Innovation Strategy, which was launched last month.
By coordinating with other public and private stakeholders it will seek to stimulate innovation in seven sectors: renewable and clean energy, transport, education, health, technology, water and space.
It will also enhance coordination, cooperation and the exchange of expertise among federal and local entities, follow up the progress of innovation initiatives and engage the private sector to ensure that its social and economic contributions stimulate innovation.
The committee will be chaired by Mohammed Al Gargawi, Minister for Cabinet Affairs, and be made up of other ministers of state.
The UAE had taken long strides along the path of progress and gained a distinct international stature, thanks to the dedicated leadership provided by the founding fathers of the Union, Sheikh Mohammed said.
“We in the UAE enjoy an open, diverse, cosmopolitan community. We are living in a rapidly changing world where our requirements and ambitions are frequently changing and this requires us to innovate in order to ensure that our country continues to enjoy its eminent standing and ranks among the best countries in the world.
“Innovation is the only way to be the best, therefore it must be a key feature and tool in all our efforts and work if we want to preserve our nation’s hard-won gains.”
Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed, the Representative of the President, also praised Sheikh Khalifa.
He pointed to the President’s’s support for the empowerment of women and attempts to diversify the economy.
He also congratulated the Emirati people on their achievements due to their hard work, while expressing his feelings of love, loyalty, and gratitude to the President.
aalkhoori@thenational.ae
* Reporting by Wam
