3 November 2009
This was stated by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the fifth anniversary of his accession as Ruler of Abu Dhabi and at the helm of power in the country after the death of Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the nation.
In a statement issued by the National Media Council, Shaikh Khalifa said, “The open-door policy is based on mutual respect for our options and those of others, and working under the umbrella of the international legitimacy and law in a way that improves the UAE standing and respect our country has earned in all domains at different international and regional organisations and circles.”
The President said that peaceful dialogue is the essence of resolving regional and international problems regardless of their scale.
“The UAE adopts the peaceful option in regaining its three islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa, occupied by Iran either by bilateral dialogue or international arbitration,” he said.
Shaikh Khalifa expressed the hope that Iran would reconsider its position and accept the UAE’s peaceful initiatives.
Arab and international understanding of the UAE stance, he said, will be instrumental in persuading Iran to sit with the UAE at the negotiating table for a fair settlement of the case.
Driven by its strategic geographical location and its dynamic economy, some ministers told Khaleej Times the UAE has become a hub for global economic, business, investment and cultural organisations and institutions, an attractive destination for millions of holiday-makers and an important host of major exhibitions in the region.
Abu Dhabi – Seat of IRENA
The UAE Government has released the full text of a policy white paper titled ‘Policy of the United Arab Emirates on the Evaluation and Potential Development of Peaceful Nuclear Energy’.
The UAE policy model is based on the principles of complete operational transparency and the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation.
Additionally, the UAE policy model calls for close and continuous coordination with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as with governments and firms of responsible nuclear supplier nations.
Towards those ends, the UAE has signed memoranda of understanding with the United States, Britain and France for joint cooperation in peaceful use of nuclear energy.
The decision of the second session of the Preparatory Commission of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) in Sharm El-Sheikh in June this year to choose Abu Dhabi as its headquarters has been well received by the international community.
IRENA Director-General Hélène Pelosse has highlighted Abu Dhabi’s role in advancing and supporting renewable energy projects.
She said the UAE supports the mission of IRENA and establishment of its seat in Abu Dhabi, underlining the role the capital can play in implementing renewable energy projects in the region.
UAE ushers in nuclear age
The UAE launched its nuclear programme this year for peaceful use and created the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation to develop and assess its Dh375-million programme.
The UAE has pledged US$10 million towards a fuel bank proposal originally launched by the Nuclear Threat Initiative in 2006.
Tourism
The UAE has led the region in the competitiveness of its travel and tourism industry, a major contributor to economic growth.
The UAE ranked 18 in the list of 124 countries in the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index Report of the World Economic Forum, which measures a destination’s attractiveness as a tourism location based on factors including price, natural and cultural resources, health and safety.
The report said that the UAE ranked sixth by showing extremely positive attitude towards foreign travellers.
Airports Council International expects the capacity of operating and future airports in the UAE, including Al Maktoum International Airport and Ajman airport, still being developed, to rise to 250 million passengers by 2020.
If the country meets capacity expectations it will have the greatest volume in the Middle East and North Africa region.
The UAE, through its investment bodies and airport authorities, is also set to pump $22 billion into construction and expansion of airports in the country.
According to figures from the country’s various airports, the UAE handled 50 million passengers in the first nine months of this year.
Infrastructure
The UAE has established several free zones at 26 seaports in the country. These clusters offer attractive incentives to lure foreign capital and encourage investors to launch commercial, industrial and services ventures in support of the national economy.
The Jebel Ali Free Zone, the largest in the country, hosts more than 6,000 companies.
The UAE has continued to carry out projects in the transport infrastructure, including new airports and seaports and rail and road projects. The UAE has international airports in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Al Ain.
The first rail system was established with Dubai Metro, a 75-km-long railway, which opened in September. In its first two weeks, the rail system carried about one million passengers.
Government
The Speaker of Federal National Council, Abdul Aziz Al Ghurair, said the constitutional amendment in December 2008 that allowed council members to sit in office for four years instead of two, was a step by Shaikh Khalifa that would add qualitative push to the development of the government system.
“The sixth Accession Day of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan comes to confirm to us that we are ushering in a new era of political representation which will constitute one of the pillars of the empowerment era,” Al Ghurair said.
The amendment also stipulates that the government report to the council any international treaties and agreements for the council’s discussion prior to ratification.
“The move lays down a solid foundation for a promising phase of political participation. This spirit will reinforce the federation and its mature experiment.
“We are walking on the right path thanks to the qualitative interaction and communication between the political leadership and people as this close bond will enrich the political experiment in the country and provide the adequate frameworks to address challenges ahead.”
Education
Education progressed over recent years alongside growth in the number of students. Ministry of Education statistics show that about 597,000 students are enrolled in 1,246 government and private schools for the academic year 2009-2010.
There are 29 universities accommodating about 70,000 students. Another 100,000 students are registered with 60 colleges and institutes.
Health Sector
The UAE has underscored promoting the level of health services and medical care provided to UAE nationals and residents alike for a dignified life.
Shaikh Khalifa has stressed that medical care and health services receive utmost attention from the UAE goverment.
Shaikh Khalifa has given approval to plans unveiled by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, to build two new world-class healthcare facilities in Mafraq and Al Ain.
The new state-of-the-art facilities will replace the existing Mafraq and Al Ain Hospitals and will be operational by 2013.
The two health facilities will add 1,087 beds in the short term and 1,378 beds in the long term.
According to latest figures compiled by the Ministry of Health, the country has 40 hospitals and more than 115 centres for primary healthcare, including 14 government hospitals, 67 health clinics, 11 school health centres, and 10 maternity and childhood care centres in addition to dozens of private hospitals and thousands of private clinics.
When the federation was born in 1971, there were only seven hospitals and 12 health clinics.
Labour issues
Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash Saeed Ghobash said that on the sixth Accession Day, the ministry could detail a raft of changes for the improvement of labour issues on the President’s directives.
A 2009 ministerial decree resulted in the Wages Protection System (WPS), an electronic salary transfer system introduced in September that requires all institutions to pay workers’ wages via banks and financial institutions.
The system, developed by the Central Bank of the UAE, allows the ministry to monitor payments to guarantee the timely and full payment of agreed-upon wages.
The WPS has drawn praise from several regional and international organisations. The International Labour Organisation has sent a labour expert to the ministry to gain an insight into the system.
Defence
In a statement to Dira’ Al Watan magazine on the occasion of the UAE Armed Forces Unification Day, the President said: “Our Armed Forces have succeeded in assimilating many modern defence systems and technologies in a relatively short span of time, thanks to their diligence and keenness on coping with latest developments. These efforts have enabled our Armed Forces to become one of the most advanced armies in the world and driving force for human and economic development.
“The military strategy of the UAE and its plans for building an integrated, strong defence system are based on determination to protect its higher interests, defend the nation, bolster its sovereignty and acquire an advanced, deterrent defence force to protect the nation, its people and gains.”
Justice
Justice Minister Dr. Hadef Al Dhahiri said the Shaikh Khalifa’s Accession anniversary coincides with the ministry’s launch of e-legislations portal which contains sets of laws of the UAE since 1971 and federal laws in English. The e-portal features verdicts of Federal Supreme Court and about 500 agreements endorsed by the UAE.
Social affairs
The Ministry of Social Affairs has established a database regarding social assistance, nurseries, NGOs and persons with disabilities. Ministry of Social Affairs has also launched Musahama web portal for UAE NGOs, the number of which stands at 130.
