Mohammed: 2013 year of Emiratisation

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai launched a large set of national initiatives to mark the occasion of the 41st National Day of the UAE during the cabinet meeting on Tuesday. Sheikh Mohammed added: “The spirit of the union is to work as a single team in accordance with a unified vision and well-defined goals, and naturally the achievement will take place. May I remind you of a very famous saying of our beloved father the late Sheikh Zayed who said, ‘The human being will perish, the wealth will perish, the nation and our services in the cause of the nation will remain’.” The cabinet approved at its meeting a set of national initiatives, the first of which was to declare year 2013 as the year of creating jobs for UAE nationals. The Cabinet also approved the “Charter of Values and Conduct of the UAE National,” which aims to raise a national generation who are aware of their responsibilities and duties towards the nation, family and community. The new charter defines Emirati citizenship, its dimensions, features, major characteristics, conduct, values and skills which a national should uphold. The Cabinet also approved a number of initiatives related to the dedication of the UAE National Union Day. These include the construction of the Union Museum at the Union House to document the history of the Union, its milestones and major figures for the coming generations. In the same context, the Cabinet also approved a resolution giving directives to the Ministry of Education to integrate the History of the Founding Fathers in the national curricula at schools in order to inspire lessons from their march for development. As part of efforts to promote the UAE national identity at universities, the Cabinet gave directives to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to introduce “Emirati Studies” as a compulsory subject for graduation from all national and private universities. The new compulsory subject shall include studies on the UAE’s history, social culture, terrains, geography, laws and regulations as well as studies that are specific to the society of the UAE. The Cabinet also dedicated 19th of Ramadan, which marks the death anniversary of the late founding father of the UAE Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as an “Emirati Humanitarian Work Day” in recognition of his role in founding the UAE’s march of humanitarian work. The Cabinet approved a resolution to task the Ministry of Public Works to construct high poles for the UAE flag in all the emirates of the UAE, to be added to the two high posts already in place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Cabinet issued another resolution obliging all federal and local departments to put a flag pole in front of their buildings. The Cabinet also approved an initiative to support small and medium size enterprises (SME) of the UAE youth through committing 10 per cent of all purchases of all federal ministries and departments. Additionally, Sheikh Mohammed hosted a gala lunch in honour of the cabinet members after the historic cabinet meeting at the Union House in Jumairah, Dubai. Seperately, Sheikh Mohammed held official talks with Ukrainian President, Viktor Yanukovych, dealing with ways of expanding horizons of cooperation and investment between UAE and Ukraine in particular the industrial and agricultural fields. Meanwhile, Sheikh Mohammed met with a British Parliamentary delegation in Dubai on Tuesday consisting of nine Conservative and Labour MPs in the House of Commons.