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Tribal leaders pledge loyalty
Different tribes across the country have been holding meetings to express national unity and renew their loyalty to the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, his brother the Rulers of the various Emirates and the government.
The traditional gatherings called Majlis are being held since mid April. By the end of this month, all the tribes will complete their meetings with declarations documented and signed.
Al Za’ab tribe at a recent Majlis in the capital issued the following tribal communiqué to express its solidarity with the Rulers and the government: “We affirm our allegiance to our wise leadership represented by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and reiterate to be guards loyal to our beloved homeland and our wise leadership.”
Most of the tribes that have concluded their meetings are finalising their communiqués with declarations through which tribe members are registering their allegiance to the country’s leadership, the Federal Government and rulers of the emirates.
The declarations that renew and pledge loyalty to the leadership and bestow trust in them will be sent to the President and Emiri Courts and the Federal Government.
Some of the big tribes, including Al Dhawahir, Al Shawamis, Al Za’ab, Al Ka’ab, Al Braiki and Al Balush have already concluded their meetings with thousands of people signing the documents that are being finalised. The meetings were also attended by women and children with special arrangements and catering services offered free of charge.
These meetings were attended by people coming from across the country. Some meetings were also scheduled in other emirates like Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Ajman.
On Saturday, a number of Majlises were held across Abu Dhabi’s Eastern Region to denounce unwarranted criticism against the government and the leadership that would affect the unity and good governance.
Khamis Mohammed Al Ka’abi after attending their tribal meeting on Saturday in Al Ain said it was every Emirati’s duty to register their allegiance to their rulers. He said: “We are a young country, but see where we stand now? Today, we are at par with the most advanced, developed and rich countries in the world because of the leadership. We have everything – the best education and the best medical services. We also have the best infrastructure today in the world. That is because of the wise and caring leadership.”
Mansour Al Shamsi, another Emirati from Al Ain, said his family migrated from the neighbouring Al Buraimi and naturalised as UAE citizen decades ago. He said: “Though we migrated from Al Buraimi, today we enjoy the best treatment the UAE government is offering to its citizens. Now it is time to pay off. Whenever, the country needs our support and loyalty, we are there and will never hesitate.”
One of them, the biggest in number of attendees, was organised by Al Balush tribe with over 3,000 people signing the document on Saturday. The meeting was held in Al Ain’s Qattara Sports Complex, supervised by the deputy head of the tribe Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, the younger brother of the tribal chief Ahmed Mahmoud.
Saeed Khalifa Al Balushi, a businessman, said: “This is the second meeting since last month. We earlier held the meeting on April 14, with 1,500 people signing the document. We are holding this meeting again because since then we have been receiving complaints from our people that they were not aware of the earlier gathering.
“Today you see the entire complex is jam-packed with these people who have come here to express their solidarity with the leaders and the country. Here we stand united along other tribes of the country.”
Since last month most of the local Arabic dailies have been flooded with advertisements from different tribes announcing the date, time and venues of their meetings, asking tribe members to come with relevant identity documents to register their loyalties.
Majlises reiterate support to the government
Ahmed Shabeeb Al Dhahiri
First Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC) and a senior member of Al Dhawahir tribe
Al Dhawahir tribe has recently held a successful grand meeting to express solidarity and renew their allegiance to the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces; their brothers; and the Rulers of the Emirates.
All the tribes have expressed their loyalty to the leaders and the government – like always they have done.
The hosting of these meetings or Majlis is a common tradition of the country where tribes get together from time to time and assure their full support for their rulers and leaders. It is an ancient trend of hosting such meetings.
Saleh Awadh Al Wahshi
Oil company official and head of Al Wahsh tribe
Today (Friday), all the members of the Al Wahsh tribe registered their loyalty to the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; his brothers; the Rulers of the Emirates; His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
The Majlis reiterated its full support to the leadership and the government. We have full trust in our leadership and the decision they make for the interest of the people of their country.
We stand united for the country. We continue hosting and holding these gatherings to express our solidarity for the interest of national unity and prosperity.Ahmed Ali Al Balushi
Senior media executive and prominent member of the Al Balush tribe
We are here to reiterate our support to our leaders and the government for a stronger, solid and prosperous UAE. Here we stand united with the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan; His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; the Rulers of other Emirates and General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
You can see this jam-packed Qattara sports complex. All these people are here to sign a document reiterating their full support to their leadership, government, the country and for the national unity. This is our tradition to express our loyalty to our rulers and country, both in good and bad times. It is a spontaneous pledge.
Compiled by Hassan Raafat and Nissar Hoath
Majlis: A way to share and care
ABU DHABI - The grand meetings of tribes that are being held to express unity and extend loyalty to the UAE Rulers and government is an ancient trend in the Arabian Peninsula.
These meetings of tribes have been held in the UAE and other GCC countries for hundreds of years. The tribal meetings are held to settle tribal disputes, pledge allegiance to rulers and tribal chief, and extend support to people beyond the peninsula or seek support from people outside the region.
“This (Majlis) is an integral part of our society. Always wise decisions have been made through these gatherings to keep us all together. It is an ancient decision-making mechanism,” Abbass Al Yousuf, a former UAE Air Force pilot, told Khaleej Times at a tribal meeting in Al Ain.
According to the people attending the Majlises, these meetings are called spontaneously.
This is how Ahmed Khamis Al Mazrouei in his early forty’s translates: “From our elders we have heard a lot of good things about togetherness. For instance, if there was a dispute between two tribes, the other tribes used to put their acts together and call for a joint Majlis, and with wise elderly decisions the problem was solved. The tribal Majlis also helped people choose the best and caring ruler in a particular area.”
Another most interesting element in the spirit of togetherness through these meeting was supporting each other during happy and bad days – weddings and deaths.
More than sixty-year-old Mariam Nuaimi, a resident of Al Buraimi, said: “If there was a death in my village, the other village would take the responsibility of catering the mourners who come from miles away. Similarly, my tribe extends the support to another tribe grieving a death.”
She also said the same is applied for weddings with people extending support to reduce the burden of two families by offering animals for feast, money and other essential things.
As she speaks of the good past things, the new generation is engaged to preserve them with these traditional Majlis.
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