Building the State and the Individual

     Thirty-two years have passed since Sheikh Zayed's reign in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi and the Federal State dawned. These years have passed by and the great leader, H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is still maintaining the momentum by adding new achievements, implementing wise decisions and opting for effective alternatives for the sake of the well-being and comfort of the UAE people and their social, economic and political welfare, as well as for ensuring a strong Federation. A federation of such foundations will be able to overcome all obstacles and will result in the building a state comprising modern institutions, universities, study and research centers, health, social service and agricultural centers. The objective of his original strategy is also to reach a joint and comprehensive vision with all the brothers in the Arab World.

     Strategy is an art and a science whose subject matter is conducting thorough research on general and national studies and drawing-up plans. Since his earliest days, Sheikh Zayed has had a clear and accurate strategic vision with respect to internal and external affairs; he has been so as the Ruler of Al Ain, then Abu Dhabi as of August 6, 1966 and eventually as a President of the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 1971.

     Internally, he cared for job creation, achievement, development and growth. He has managed to overcome difficulties with a strong will, and to surmount obstacles with faith in God and his homeland. He remains determined to turn his great aspirations into reality relying on his strong faith and his confidence in science, investigation and discovery. The best example of this is the conversion of the desert into a green land producing fruit and vegetables, the promotion of trade and the development of industry.As for oil, he has his own strategy for the implementation of oil projects and for the optimal use of this wealth.

     Planning for the present is informed by a vision of the future; both are based on a clear perspective, profound methodology and consultations to benefit from the scope of experience and expertise. All these things require making optimal use of time and its associated dynamics. They also presuppose a link with the suitability of place and the possibility of developing, adjusting or changing it.

     Zayed, the great leader, has always possessed a strong will to build the country, a determination to develop it, an incisive vision that encompasses reality and an inherent strength to face the future. All these personal assets give a good indication of how the strategic vision is going to be transformed into reality.

     His Highness affirms that there is no country without capabilities and the individual is the real wealth of this country. We have to work assiduously, each according to his ability. Knowledge should prevail and culture is to be consolidated, as both are deemed strong tools for developing the human mind, the center of creativity endeavor. His Highness says: "Now that we have lived the present and harvested what we planted, we are moving ahead towards the future." (32)Sheikh Zayed is a pragmatic man in the full sense of the word. He connected vision with action, and theory with practice. As a result, his strategy is characterized by dynamism and is free of inflexibility and rigidity. Its hallmark is a blueprint linking effective education, broad knowledge and domestic issues with the dynamics of social and national change, to bring about increased productivity and growth, which depend primarily on the continuous interaction between knowledge and its application. The objective is to achieve maximum progress and prosperity.

     On the basis of this, we can say that His Highness has a very impressive renaissance program whose essence is building the individual. The individual, after being equipped with values, ideals, ethics, knowledge, culture, determination, will, love of the homeland, and readiness to work in pursuit of building the homeland in the domains of industry, agriculture, science and technology, is the hub of the wheel of progress.

     The warp and weft weave the strands of reality, which have to form the starting point of the renaissance program, if it is not to turn into a mirage or an illusion. Reality involves both the local and national circumstances, the link between roots and modernity and the comprehension of current developments and what form they must take in the future. This is necessary in order to be able to absorb what is positive from the achievements of the international community.

     In a press interview with the representatives of the Dutch Daily Telegraph newspaper and the Lebanese Dar Alssayad on August 7, 1973, Sheikh Zayed says: "We have our traditions, customs and ideals that we stick to. We do not imitate the lifestyle of other nations. In the western community there are lifestyles that do not attract us and hence we will not bring them to our country. However, we will take advantage of some other aspects such as industrial progress."

     We note, to give only one example, that, as a result of Sheikh Zayed's desire to diversify the sources of national income, the contribution of the manufacturing industry sector to the Gross Domestic Product increased tenfold from 1975 to 1988.

     At the core of Sheikh Zayed's strategic vision are certain inalienable principles and motives, which form the firm base of his deliberations, ideas and actions. These, as we have mentioned earlier on, are knowledge, hard work, devotion, patriotism and the quest for unity. When he speaks about a certain project, he gives priority to the interest of all citizens. When he speaks of an undertaking or something to be done, he always has as the point of departure the benefit of all the people of his country. He is never content with immediate implementation. Rather, he aspires to what will benefit his people in the present and the future. He studies the implications of population density, over-crowding, complications, the negative impact on the human and physical environment and all other matters; this makes his theory and practice both realistic and rational. He is not an egocentric whose goal is vain self-interest. What matters to him is thinking about others and how any project may reflect on their prosperity. His Highness thinks that dependence on nationals in building the country is an inevitable necessity. When he called for the adaptation of foreign scientific and technological research to local conditions in order to grasp this research and make use of it, he relied on his comprehensive vision of his people and on his firm belief that the country should be built by its own people, those who were born and lived there, steeped in a continuum of their past, their heritage and history.

     The evidence is there for all to see. The lofty towers symbolize the rapid development that has taken place. Large notable buildings housing oil, gas, cement, plastics, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and chemical industries and industrial plants are seen all around, such as Umm Al Nar oil refinery which was the first huge project of its kind in the country; the cement factory in Al Ain which is deemed as an indispensable factor in the construction process; Zayed Port, Abu Dhabi's outlet to the world; the gas liquefaction plant in Das Island, which cost one billion dollars and is considered as the first and most advanced plant of its kind in the region, in addition to the enormous projects in Al Ruwais and many more.

     The National Council is one of His Highness domestic achievements, which reflects the high premium placed on solidarity and unity within one family. It is a true symbol of consultation, concern with the country's issues, and of participation in serving and defending it.

     The great and significant achievements of the National Council since its establishment include the State Consultative Council and municipal councils in each one of the Emirates.

     The National Council has exerted laudable and noble efforts and deepened the concept of consultation; the Holy Koran has inspired benevolent Zayed in this particular respect: "...and who (conduct) their affairs by mutual consultation..." God speaks the truth. Ruling by consultation is ordained by God; he who does not obey God will lose.

     Some of his great achievements are his field tours and visits to acquaint himself with the reality of people's lives and needs and at the same time implement the great values of democracy, which are inspired by our exalted Islamic teachings. He collects facts, studies issues and gives instructions to solve the problems in a forthright and decisive manner, without any hesitation, because the building of the individual and the progress of the country are his ultimate objective.

     H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has established his relationship with his brothers, rulers of other emirates, on a strong foundation of love, cooperation, brotherhood and constant consultation. He always meets them, opens dialogues with them, and discusses with them the most appropriate methods for the development and prosperity of the country, in terms of economics, construction works, social affairs and services, as well as the environment. He supports them and shares with them the undertaking of responsibilities and burdens that weigh on their shoulders. Since his childhood up till now, Sheikh Zayed has been calling others to work, preaching justice and equity. Ruling families have their special respect; however, there is equity with regard to duties, rights and responsibilities between all members of society.

     The approach adopted by Sheikh Zayed in considering the conditions of the people and in meeting their requirements has become an integral part of his prudent policy and a fundamental cornerstone of his life's program. He was very upset when he came to know that there were some citizens who lived in houses that did not belong to them. He immediately ordered to provide houses and farms to the needy ones throughout the country. He said that he wanted citizens who "do not have incomes whether in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or any other Emirate to have their own houses and farms."

    He made this statement when he was receiving Mohamed Bin Khalifa Al Habtoor, Chairman of the National Federal Council, and a number of the Council members at the Al Bahr Palace on April 5, 1998, when H.H. received the response of the National Council to the address he had given in the opening of the first ordinary session of the eleventh legislative round of the National Council on December 14, 1997.

    At this meeting H.H. Sheikh Zayed reconfirmed that he sought above all the welfare of the UAE people. He insisted that the most important task to be achieved was to build and protect each UAE citizen, and develop him socially, intellectually and economically. He wondered why there were still some citizens living in rented houses in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.

     His Highness ordered to provide all divorcees and widows with appropriate accommodation.

   His Highness, President of the United Arab Emirates, expressed his deep concern over the sale of land and trading in it, and emphasized that land in the UAE should not be offered for sale. He said: "Land should be allocated for our people for their use. They are our folks; the ones who protect the land and the country and they should have equal rights with respect to land. I would urge the rulers not to sell the land whether to locals or foreigners, don't sell even a grain of sand".

     Furthermore, the Government has been very keen to achieve social equity, provide free medical care and medicines for all those who live on this land, increase the number of hospitals and clinics in towns and remote areas, to provide the latest means of medical prevention and treatment, and to increase the number of doctors and specialists in order to upgrade the standard of medical services. The number of hospitals and medical centers is growing day by day. In addition to this, villages and remote areas witnessed the construction of many power stations to cover the needs of the inhabitants of these areas. The Government has also taken practical steps to develop and provide water sources in the suburbs and remote areas and to carry out new projects such as the construction of water desalination and sterilization plants and well drilling.As to the low cost houses, H.H. Sheikh Zayed ordered them to be constructed throughout the State so that each citizen would have a proper shelter.

     The prices of certain food products, especially basic foods, are subsidized by the Government, and the latter has also facilitated loans on lenient terms for national investment.As for the judicial system, the Government was very keen to establish the legal structure of the State; it promoted the mission of the judiciary, beginning by a review of all legislation and ending with the promulgation of new laws based on the Islamic Sharia and at the same time in line with development and contemporary life.

     Under the valued instructions of H.H. Sheikh Zayed, the Government increased the number of scholarships in all fields of study and has paid special attention to the development of curricula so as to raise standards of education for future generations.

     Wajih Abu Zikra mentioned some of the humanitarian stances in his book, A Close Look at Zayed, by saying: "I have attended Sheikh Zayed's majlis which is open for all citizens, more than once, and I saw many wonders with my own eyes. I have in my memory three such incidents.

     The first began with a Bedouin man holding a stick coming in to join the majlis. H.H. Sheikh Zayed stood up, shook hands with him and then sat down. The Bedouin leant on his stick in front of Sheikh Zayed and in a loud voice - as if he was addressing the majlis- said: "Oh Zayed, my name is so and so. I am here for a plot of land where I can build a house for me and my children." After a short discussion, the President ordered a grant of a plot of land. Then the man said: "I need money to build a house". H.H Sheikh Zayed ordered a grant of what he needed from the special fund allocated by Sheikh Zayed for this purpose, in one of the banks. In a few minutes the man left the place after receiving what he had come for.In the second incident I saw Sheikh Zayed discussing things with Dr. Abdul Rahman Makhloof, international city planning expert. There was a map lying in front of him. As far as I remember, Sheikh Zayed was talking about accelerating the work and I remember him saying: "My people suffered enough and now we are prosperous. This new wealth should all be exploited for their benefit as fast as possible."

    The third incident was when there was a big dispute between two men, who seemed to be chieftains. It seemed that the dispute was deep-rooted. Zayed intervened strongly and put an end to the dispute and satisfied both parties."

Building the Armed Forces

     As the future is full of surprises, H.H. Sheikh Zayed always seeks to find the most appropriate ways to defuse such surprises, therefore he believes in the necessity of developing the armed forces as a prerequisite for a strong state. "Our preparation includes the reinforcement and development of the Armed Forces by procuring modern arms and securing a high standard of training to face up to aggression perhaps, without the need of help from a friend in order to save him the trouble. Yet the friend is always there when we need him."

     One of the basics of Sheikh Zayed's strategy is the development of the Armed Forces in order to defend the country when required to do so in times of hardship, and to achieve self-security without the need for help. His Highness always makes his best effort to strengthen and support the military capabilities of the Armed Forces so as to provide security and deter enemies.

     Sheikh Khalid Bin Mohammed Al Qassimi says: "In the leader's view, land is like honor, it should be defended by all means. A country's resources are the public property of the people, and they should defend them with their blood and soul. Honor and self-esteem are the most precious qualities of a human being and they are to be defended to the death. Based on this view he has built a modern army equipped with strong armory and commanded by modern military minds. Moreover, the army is equipped with a creed that is deemed stronger and more powerful than combat efficiency."

     Unifying the Armed Forces has been one of the most important achievements of H.H. Sheikh Zayed, because building a strong army is a necessary step in protecting the homeland. He began the construction process, building on two pillars, ethics and virtues in behavior and treatment, and science and knowledge, so that the soldier will be ready for the battle and his combat efficiency is reinforced on both the intellectual and technical levels. The great Leader believes that what really counts is the man behind the gun. So he focused on preparing men by a well-planned scientific process depending on a training program based on state-of-the-art military science of tactics and expertise. Within a short span of time the Armed Forces emerged with absolute readiness to defend the country under an unmatched command to achieve safety, security and stability and ensure progress, welfare and prosperity.

     Hence the unification of the Armed Forces was one of the most significant achievements of H.H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan due to the fact that a strong and powerful army is needed to defend the country.

     "At times of ordeal men are judged. The Gulf crisis revealed the deep-rooted qualities of our people whom we should hail and give due respect. In those bleak days our people demonstrated their real virtue and gave true and realistic example of solidarity, cooperation, brotherhood, and readiness for sacrifice in defending the homeland side by side with the Armed Forces. They proved that they are an effective support for their brothers in the Gulf, through thick and thin. In a nutshell, they were a real example of solidarity, unity and cooperation.

     "In the war for the liberation of Kuwait the UAE Armed Forces gave a real example of bravery, preparedness and combat efficiency.

     Now, the Armed Forces is growing stronger with its accomplishments on the national level, using the latest technology to defend the country and its gains and achievements.

     In order to support this significant sector, colleges and institutes such as the Zayed Military College, Air Force College and technical institutes were opened to cover the needs of the Armed Forces.

     Woman in the United Arab Emirates re-ascertained her national role by responding to the President's call to volunteer and join the Armed Forces. Groups of UAE women graduated from Khawla Bint Al Azwar School and proved their capabilities in practice.

     The Egyptian "Al Akhbar" daily newspaper published in its edition of December 2, 1990, a press report with headlines of some of Sheikh Zayed's sayings:- Zayed: Our Armed Forces maintains and wastes not, defends and threatens not"- "We are proud of our men, who are our real wealth for the good of all Arabs"- "Gulf people are one equal family, heading steadily for unity"- "No to arrogance and force, yes to dialogue and brotherhood"In his speech on the occasion of the 27th National Day, he said about the modern Army: "Dear fellow UAE nationals, we are paying special attention to the Armed Forces. Our aim is to reinforce its role in protecting our national gains, and defending our territories against any dangers. For this purpose we have adopted an ambitious program looking forward to building a modern Army, possessing all the know-how for military readiness, with high standards of combat efficiency, preparedness and knowledge. Our national colleges and institutes follow advanced programs to create a strong base that represents a source of might for the protection of our country under all circumstances and conditions."