A joyous welcome for UAE soldiers from Yemen

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Emirati soldiers during rehabilitation and demining operations some 50 kilometres north of Aden.
Emirati soldiers during rehabilitation and demining operations some 50 kilometres north of Aden.

Dubai - The welcome back ceremony will be shown live by all local TV channels, and on big screens in shopping malls across the country.

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Published: Sat 7 Nov 2015, 5:23 PM

Last updated: Tue 27 Dec 2022, 10:26 AM

A ceremony to be held today will welcome back the first batch of Emirati servicemen of the Armed Forces from Yemen. The ceremony for the valiant soldiers will be held in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The joyful occasion will be shown live by all local TV channels, and on big screens in all shopping malls across the country.


Meanwhile, Their Highnesses the Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates and Crown Princes paid tributes to the sacrifices made by the UAE Armed Forces, especially citing the martyrs who gave up their lives for this country, and for the Arab and Muslim world.

Role model for Emiratis


In a speech marking the announcement of the imminent return of the UAE Armed Forces' first batch from Yemen, and the readiness of the second batch to join the Arab coalition forces, His Highness Dr Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah said: "We feel a sense of pride as we receive the first batch of our UAE Armed Forces' soldiers from Yemen, where they represent a role model for Emirati and Arab citizens in making sacrifices to support the people of Yemen."

He added that the brave soldiers, who are leaving their country to sacrifice themselves for the sake of homeland and nation, are writing an honourable Emirati and Arab history.

The Sharjah Ruler stressed that soldiers' participation in the war against injustice reflects the pivotal role of the UAE in the joint Arab coalition forces.

"We congratulate the country and the Arab nation, and the UAE Armed Forces soldiers, who have proved that they are able to shoulder their responsibility and their military capabilities in the battlefields,'' he added.

We were with you

His Highness Shaikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, in a speech marking the announcement of the return of UAE Armed Forces' first batch from Yemen, and the readiness of the second batch to join the Arab coalition forces in Yemen, said: "We are happy to receive our brave heroes with their heads held up after fighting for the justice and peace in Yemen with whom we share Arab and Islamic values, as well as common destiny."

He added: "We were with you while you were sacrificing your lives for the sake of restoring the legitimacy through defeating the Houthi rebels. You have achieved honourable and heroic acts which made the wise leadership and the whole world proud of you. You were a role model in patriotism and dedication for the homeland."

Shaikh Humaid stressed that Operation Decisive Storm has proven that the UAE Armed Forces is among the strongest and experienced Arab armies that shields and defends the borders of the homeland.

"The UAE leadership and the people praise your huge efforts and contributions in Yemen to liberating it from the Houthi rebels and the Ali Saleh group. You liberated Aden, Bab-el-Mandeb and Marib Dam, which was rebuilt by the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The rest of Yemen will be liberated soon.

You are the hope of this nation

His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, while paying tributes to the UAE Armed Forces servicemen said: "Our sons in the Armed Forces nationwide deserve salute for their sacrifices to make our country safer and stable against terrorists and aggressors. They will shield it with their precious blood to keep the nation's flag flying high." He added that the Armed Forces will remain a source of pride and security.

"You deserve our honour, prestige and confidence," he said. "Your sacrifices are invaluable. You have left your families and granted your lives to the cause of this beloved country. You are the hope of this nation."

He added: "As we renew our confidence in the brave servicemen deployed in Yemen and their comrades who will replace them to complete the Operation Restoring Hope and the Rebuilding of Yemen, we remember the martyred comrades who fell in the line of the duty taking part in the Arab coalition in Yemen."

Complementary role

While commending the role of the first batch of the UAE Armed Forces' brave soldiers, His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, said the soldiers answered the call of the leadership, led by Shaikh Khalifa, Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid, and Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed.

He added that the faithful people of the UAE expressed, through solidarity with their leadership, that national cohesion is one of the citizenship's traits.

"Today, we say goodbye to a new constellation of blessed armed forces' soldiers to participate in the Arab coalition forces. I am confident that the second batch will play a complementary role to their brethren in the first batch."

Shaikh Saud expressed his pride in the righteous martyrs of the homeland who provided a model in sacrifices, valuing the stances of the martyrs' families, and the national cohesion shown by citizens with the wise leadership.

Victories give us pride

His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah hailed the heroism of the UAE Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives in the battlefield to defend the right and justice in Yemen.

"Today, when we receive our heroes of the first batch, we see off with a feeling of pride and awe, the second batch to participate in the Arab coalition forces.... The victories accomplished by the UAE Armed Forces in Yemen give us a sense of pride. They have dedicated themselves for the sake of the homeland and proven their competency in the battlefields.

Shaikh Saud added: "Our historic role in Yemen is not only the military side, but also touches the humanitarian and relief aspect so as to alleviate the suffering of the people of Yemen. These efforts complement the legacy of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who led the development and housing projects in Yemen - a legacy sustained and cherished by Shaikh Khalifa."

Proud of our heroes

Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council also commended the huge cohesion between the wise leadership and the people of the UAE demonstrated by the collective support to the efforts of the UAE in Yemen.

In his speech themed "Days of Glory," on the announcement of the imminent return of the UAE Armed Forces' first batch from Yemen, and preparations to deploy the second batch to join the Saudi-led Arab coalition's Operation Restoring Hope, in Yemen, Shaikh Hamdan said the 'Days of Glory' bear the sublime themes of patriotism cherished by Emiratis across the country.

"We will be writing history when we receive our heroes who wrote the glory in the annals of history while taking part in the Arab coalition. They pushed away the forces of evil. The sacrifices of our martyrs will continue pushing us ahead to dedicate the final victory to them and our nation," said Shaikh Hamdan.

"We are proud of our heroes and Shaikh Khalifa. We reiterate our allegiance to Shaikh Khalifa to double our work to preserve the UAE's gains and score more achievements and top rankings for our country. We also pledge to Shaikh Mohammed to be more vigilant so as to tackle the challenges surrounding us with a decisive strength to safeguard our nation and sustain the prosperity," Shaikh Hamdan said.

A historic mission

The sacrifices of the UAE Armed Forces alongside the Arab coalition's Operation Restoring Hope, led by Saudi Arabia, in Yemen was also hailed by the Crown Princes of the various emirates.

Shaikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah said: "When we saw off the first batch of the UAE Armed Forces soldiers to defend the legitimacy and right in Yemen, the nation was full of confidence that they would shoulder their responsibilities thanks to their advanced military capabilities.

"The war in Yemen has united all of us under the umbrella of justice and right. The reaction seen by martyrs' families translate their pride in the sacrifices of their sons which proved their sincere loyalty and belonging to the homeland, which would have a positive impact on the coming generations," he added.

Shaikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman welcomed the return of the soldiers and preparations to deploy the second batch. He noted that the UAE, along other GCC states, responded to the call from brothers in Yemen to protect its Yemen from the danger posed by the Houthi militia.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah hailed the return of the soldiers and saluted the Emirati soldiers of the second batch, while Shaikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain, praised the sacrifices of the UAE Armed Forces' first batch in Yemen, noting that the sacrifices reflect the allegiances to the leadership of Shaikh Khalifa, Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed. He added that the second batch will complete the historic mission started by the first batch to seal the victory.

Shaikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, said history will not forget the role of the UAE Armed Forces' servicemen taking part in the Saudi-led Arab coalition's Operation Restoring Hope, in Yemen. "The UAE Armed Forced along with the Arab coalition achieved decisive victories," he said. "The victories in Yemen fill us with pride as our armed forces contribute to restoring peace, stability and development in Yemen."

Emirati soldiers during rehabilitation and demining operations some 50 kilometres north of Aden.  - Photo used for illustrative purposes
Emirati soldiers during rehabilitation and demining operations some 50 kilometres north of Aden. - Photo used for illustrative purposes
Emirati soldiers during rehabilitation and demining operations some 50 kilometres north of Aden.  - Photo used for illustrative purposes
Emirati soldiers during rehabilitation and demining operations some 50 kilometres north of Aden. - Photo used for illustrative purposes
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HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamme
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New Image of H.H Shaikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain
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HH Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al
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HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamm

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