UAE National Day: Sheikh Khalifa optimistic after year of 'exceptional challenges'

The President said the country will emerge stronger despite 'significant losses of lives and finances'

People get tested for coronavirus at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health authorities have called upon citizens and residents to join with the efforts of health care professionals. Health workers, such as these Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, have led the way. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at the emergency ward in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. The President, Sheikh Khalifa, has paid tribute to the frontline workers who helped to curb Covid-19. Reem Mohammed / The National

Healthcare workers at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City receive a patient outside the emergency department. Reem Mohammed / The National

A consultant physician at the emergency department in Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, receives a Covid-19 patient. Reem Mohammed / The National

People get the laser blood test tests at the Mina Rashid screening centre in Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A nurse sanitises her hands after conducting a swab test at one of the UAE's screening drive-through centres in Mina Rashid, Dubai. Victor Besa / The National

A health worker taking the Covid-19 nasal swab test at a testing station in thet Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Nurse Renu Venugopal, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at Al Zahra Hospital, Sharjah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Ruth Deva Kiruba says being pregnant during a pandemic was surreal and sometimes lonely. Chris Whiteoak / The National

EMT nurse Jephy Antony, who contracted Covid-19, recovered and continued to treat patients at the NMC Royal Hospital, DIP, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A visitor gets tested at the Ras Al Khaimah Covid-19 drive-through testing centre. Reem Mohammed / The National

Nurse Nikhil Rajendran inside the fever clinic at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed Bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

Shane Simeon Galang from Philippines, Mervat Aslan Mhgoub Mohamed from Egypt and Sowmya Kotian from India, who are nurses at the Bareen International Hospital in Mohamed bin Zayed City in Abu Dhabi. Pawan Singh / The National

The President Sheikh Khalifa said the UAE was looking to the future after a year of exceptional challenges.

To mark the UAE's 49th National Day, Sheikh Khalifa paid tribute to the frontline workers who turned the tide in the battle against coronavirus.

Wam reported that the President said despite the significant losses of life and finances this year, the pandemic underlined "the efficiency of our healthcare system, [and ] how prepared our country is in the face of emergencies and crises".

Sheikh Khalifa said the country's communication and technology infrastructure enabled the nation to move easily towards remote work and online learning.

He said the introduction of strict precautionary measures and an effective national sterilisation programme proved crucial in controlling the spread of the virus and the country was able to offer medical care and protection to citizens, residents and visitors.

"We extend our deepest appreciation to the dedicated workers for a crisis well managed, for a decisive confrontation of the pandemic, for the preservation of the nation's security, for the protection of its economy, for safeguarding the well-being of its community and for ensuring the sustainability of the educational process," he said.

His comments came in a statement to Nation Shield, the UAE Armed Forces magazine. Sheikh Khalifa also spoke about a special year that brought the launch of the Emirates Mars Mission, the opening of the Barakah nuclear power plant – a first for the Arab world – and improved food security.

While the country celebrates its 49th birthday on Wednesday, thoughts are already turning to next year when the UAE celebrates its Golden Jubilee. Sheikh Khalifa said that by 2071 the UAE will become the first in the world in global indicators for well-being, happiness and quality of life.

"Looking to the future with optimism, anticipating its horizons and pre-planning its paths is an authentic Emirati approach for which the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan laid the foundations with his brothers, the Founding Fathers."

As part of "our project for designing the next 50 years, some of the decisions we took included the renaming of ministries, merging some, and creating new ones", he said.

Ministers were also appointed to focus on areas of crucial importance such as scientific research, advanced technology and artificial intelligence and the digital economy.

Other areas Sheikh Khalifa said the country was focusing on developing were remote work, renewable energy, food security, women empowerment and youth protection, as well as nurturing a future generation of qualified Emiratis and attracting high-calibre foreign talent.

TOPSHOT - In this handout photograph taken and released on July 20, 2020 by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries an H-2A rocket carrying the Hope Probe known as "Al-Amal" in Arabic, developed by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore Mars, blasts off from Tanegashima Space Centre in southwestern Japan. The first Arab space mission to Mars blasted off on July 20 aboard a rocket from Japan, with the probe dubbed "Hope" successfully separating about an hour after liftoff. - --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / (MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES)" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS --- / AFP / Mitsubishi Heavy Industries / Handout / --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / (MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES)" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS ---

He said the UAE "succeeded in making remarkable achievements" in people's empowerment, raising the levels of participation and strengthening the role of the Federal National Council by increasing the representation of both women and youths.

"The UAE's political empowerment programme is a sustainable one that will remain guided by Emirati society and its virtues," he said.

Regarding the country's economic achievements, Sheikh Khalifa said those were reflected in several global competitiveness indicators that highlighted the "resilience of our economy and its high ability to confront economic shocks and fluctuations, as well as global challenges".

This was made possible, Sheikh Khalifa said, thanks to an economy that boasts a successful economic diversification policy, large investment assets, wide trade relations, diversified exports and, even more importantly, empowered individuals capable of and free to create ideas and enterprises.

Sheikh Khalifa said the UAE served as a model for progress and sustainable development and set an example with its values of tolerance, coexistence, openness and rejection of hatred. The country also sets an example for the justice, equality, security, well-being and prosperity it provides to its citizens.

"We have succeeded in establishing a healthcare system of global standards, a high-level educational system, community development programmes, distinguished social care, nationwide housing projects, an integrated infrastructure, a sustainable environment ... and other remarkable achievements that have enabled us and our people to successfully surpass the stage of empowering to begin creating the next 50 [years]," he said.

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Sheikh Zayed and the story of a nation

Sheikh Zayed, seen here attending an early book fair in Abu Dhabi. Courtesy: Al Ittihad

The true genius of a culture and a society lay, Sheikh Zayed believed, in their capacity to adopt and thrive in a changing world. Courtesy: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed raising the flag at Union House in Dubai. December 2, 1971. Courtesy: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed attending the first UAE National Day celebrations on December 2, 1972. Courtesy: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed attending the first session of the National Consultative Council in Abu Dhabi in October 1971. Courtesy: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed meets Queen Elizabeth II during a state visit 40 years ago. Courtesy: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed, the founding father of the UAE. Courtesy: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed was a man of the people. Courtesy: Al Ittihad

The old souq in Abu Dhabi shot at some point in the 1970s. Courtesy Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed's leadership is not just remembered for all that he built, but for all he did for others. Courtesy: Al Ittihad

Sheikh Zayed walking past supporters Fujairah during his in January 1972. Wam

Men dance while holding khanjars in Al Ain, 1959. Getty Images

Oil sustained the development of the UAE. And this, a petroleum tank being built in Dubai Creek in 1970, was a familiar sight. Getty Images

Ships unloading their goods on the creek for the Customs Department in Dubai in 1967. Getty Images