UAE to celebrate 37th National Day

The UAE's National Day will be marked with a speech from Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

The UAE celebrates its 37th National Day on Dec 2, which will be marked by a speech from Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi. In his address last December, Sheikh Khalifa highlighted the UAE's greater emphasis on the empowerment of its people and his vision for the growth of the nation. He declared 2008 the year of national identity, calling for "a new era, an era in which the UAE's human capital would take the centre stage."

Other hallmarks of this new era also include, among others, enhancing co-operation between local and federal institutions; improving the decision- making process; upgrading the performance of government institutions; harnessing human resources; and improving the quality of services. Next Month Sheikh Khalifa most likely revisit these issues, and policital progress - the Federal National Council, (FNC) has half of its members elected, with women representing 22.5 per cent of the total number of FNC members.

The speech will most also probably address the current global financial crisis and the expected continued resiliance of the UAE's core economy. "We remain committed to continuing our democratic change until we achieve all planned goals through paving the way for and offering the chance for more participation, and through enhancing the role of the FNC as a legislative and monitoring power. "To keep in line with this trend and to support it, we call for the implementation of a national programme that aims at strengthening our identity and deepening the values of belonging and of citizenship, as well as providing the required conditions in society that reflect our country as an example of an open modern society whose values are consistent with our beliefs and our heritage", he added. The National Day celebrations will start from Nov 23 2008 and will conclude on Dec 4. * With WAM