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Video: UAE to Mars in first 50 years; leaders have grander dreams for next 50

Dubai - Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed made the comments at the end of a two-day ministerial retreat.

Ever since its formation, the UAE has presented a unique success story — and its dreams are only going to get bigger, according to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

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The visionary leader's comments came at the conclusion of a two-day retreat to lay out a strategic framework for the development of the country over the next 50 years.

“Over the past 50 years, we started from the desert of our land to the desert of Mars," said the Dubai Ruler. "Our dreams will be even bigger for the next 50 years.”

Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE presented an exceptional development model to the world that placed human capital at the centre of all its development and economic plans.

“We have reached this far because the impossible does not exist in the UAE. We have the scientific, educational and economic resources to take the UAE to new frontiers in the next 50 years, and we have Mohamed bin Zayed to lead this journey.”

Sheikh Mohammed said the UAE has become a land of opportunities, home to a stable economy, advanced infrastructure, and business-friendly legislative framework — all of which have proven very attractive to entrepreneurs, investors and young talents.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who co-chaired the retreat, paid tribute to the "solid foundation" its fathers laid for the country as being instrumental in its success.

“The UAE has reached where it is today, thanks to the values of tolerance and coexistence that the founding leaders Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid established from the beginning of our journey," he said. "The last 50 years were filled with prosperity, development and success, and we will need to move at a greater speed to meet our growing ambitions for the next 50 years.”

He noted that the high motivation and energy of all participants in the retreat reflects the determination of the people of the UAE to succeed in all sectors of life.

“Our government teams in the next phase will only welcome people who will exert 10 times more efforts and energy to achieve greater successes. Our vision is to make the UAE an attractive destination for talents, ideas and investment.”

During the retreat, Sheikh Mohamed emphasised the country's desire to compete internationally. “We will preserve Mohammed bin Rashid’s principle of always being number one,” he said.