We stay united, says Shaikh Saud

“Those who poke their noses into the UAE’s internal affairs (should) mind their own business,” His Highness Shaikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, said on Saturday.

Shaikh Saud and Shaikh Mohammed bin Saud during a dialogue with citizens in Ras Al Khaimah. — Wam

In a dialogue with a group of citizens about a range of issues recently raised through social media networks, Shaikh Saud added that the country’s leaders had made promises to ensure that those with malignant ideas would not be permitted to harm the country. Shaikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, and Shaikh Tariq bin Kayed Al Qasimi attended the meeting.

“Those who reflect on the history on the UAE will clearly recognise the harsh life lived by our forefathers,” Shaikh Saud said.

“Despite that, they defended their land with courage, loyalty and love, and this is what made our state successful.”

The people of the UAE, he added, were “people who kept their promises,” noting that since the UAE was established it had maintained a loyal and honourable stance on all Gulf and Arab issues, in line with the policy of its founding father, the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his well-known statement that “Arab oil is not more precious than Arab blood.”

“We hear today,” Shaikh Saud said, “that there are some who are trying to tamper with the stability of the UAE. I would like to say to them: ‘The people of the UAE don’t need lessons from anyone. They are confident in themselves and in the solidarity that they share. They don’t change . Their character is not artificial and the country’s principles are deeply rooted. Throughout history, the people of the UAE have defended their land, and they continue to do so today,” he added. “I would like to advise those who poke their noses into the UAE’s internal affairs to mind their own business, because our forefathers have bequeathed to us a magnificent structure,” Shaikh Saud commented.

“The people who built this country were united as one body. Forty years ago, we all —Rulers and people— made a pledge and founded this federation. It is the people who have protected this union, and they need no lessons in awareness from anyone. How could we not wish to preserve this union? The fact that we host and embrace different nationalities from around the world who have opted, of their own free will, to come to live amongst us in a desire for a life of dignity is a spectacular testimony of the security and safety that, thanks to the grace of Allah, we enjoy.”

“The people of the UAE have provided other people with opportunities and offer an illustrious model of peaceful co-existence for those who do not compromise on their faithfulness and loyalty to the country. He who does not like this should leave for another place. Any treachery is a shame for him, and for his country,” the Ruler added. “We have an open-door policy; the channels for communications between us are open. Let those who wish to proffer advice come through that wide-open door.”

The UAE, Shaikh Saud noted, has made progress of which many other countries can only dream. Now, he said, the government, which will spare no effort to serve the interests of the country, has specified an improvement in the performance of the ministries as one of its top priorities.

“Anyone who seeks to offer advice must respect the country and its soil and must not confuse humility with weakness,” he added.

“I address my words to those who wish to try to teach us lessons of which we are in no need. There can be no competition in terms of religion, loyalty and love of the homeland. We will continue to welcome foreigners to live amongst us and to plan for the future of our children.” Shaikh Saud went on to note that the principles and guidelines laid down by the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, “further strengthen our determination to preserve our great love for this country”. He also expressed approbation for the remark made recently to students of the Institute of Applied Technology in Ras Al Khaimah by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, that: ‘You are the most valuable asset on the soil of the UAE’.

“Those who try to belittle the Emirates do not affect the prominent status that our country enjoys,” he said.

“We will accept this neither from our brothers nor from any part of our country. Our state has been blessed and its bounty is for its people as well as for others in times of hardship, even if they are far from our Arab society. It is not part of the teachings of Islam to adopt alien, non-indigenous concepts.

“Thanks to God, the position of our state is as clear as the sun in the sky and our sons and daughters have a shining image in all of the spheres in which the state is recognised as an oasis of science, knowledge and well-being.

“He who would compare himself to others should provide facts. Words without action are valueless. The UAE is sheltered by the heritage of Shaikh Zayed and by the achievements of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa, and of the Rulers and Supreme Council Members, and is safeguarded by its people, who are loyal to the nation, the country and its leadership. We don’t care about the raising of trivial things and arguments that have already been defeated.

“We are loyal to our United Arab Emirates. We know very well the language of building, which is far removed from that of destruction. It saddens us when our children are misled and become lost. That is a loss for us, too, but we are able to bring them back to the right path.. We are committed to the promises we made (40 years ago). And that commitment will not allow for any malignant person to harm a single inch of our country. We will preserve our UAE, which has created its own history. Anyone may commit a mistake, but it is possible for that mistake to be corrected if there is a will to do so and if there is an insistence that it should be corrected,” Shaikh Saud concluded.