Each year on December 2, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrates its National Day, commemorating the anniversary of its blessed Union. As time progresses, the UAE continues to strengthen its foundations and accumulate achievements, exemplifying the profound wisdom of its founding leaders. These visionaries faced the challenges of division and fragmentation head-on, establishing robust pillars that have propelled the UAE to become one of the world's leading nations across various developmental and civilizational indicators.
Unity as the Cornerstone of Strength and Progress
The founding leaders' foresight and wisdom were rooted in their belief that the path to the future began with a unified, cohesive, and strong entity capable of addressing common challenges. At the forefront of this vision was the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the foremost advocate of unity, who tirelessly worked to make it a lived reality. He once remarked: "Some accuse me of being a unionist, and I do not deny it. I am a unionist, but I do not impose unity on anyone."
Driven by the principle that "union is strength and division is weakness," Sheikh Zayed and the rulers of the emirates succeeded in announcing the establishment of the United Arab Emirates on December 2, 1971. Following this momentous occasion, they worked tirelessly to consolidate the federal structure, completing its institutions and systems. A pivotal moment in this process was the historic decision to unify the UAE Armed Forces under one central command, one flag, and one emblem on May 6, 1976.
This crucial step solidified the Union and launched the UAE into a journey of development and modernization. The result of these visionary efforts has been the UAE's rise to global leadership and its remarkable developmental achievements, which continue to shape its trajectory today.
The Union, as the foundation of the UAE's achievements in its first 50 years, remains the cornerstone for the nation's ambitious and intelligent vision for the next half-century, culminating in the UAE Centennial 2071. This vision is enshrined in the first principle of "The Principles of the Fifty" document, which serves as a roadmap for the nation's institutions over the coming five decades. The principle underscores the priority of "strengthening of the union, its institutions, legislature, capabilities and finances," emphasizing that "the development of the urban and rural economies throughout the nation is the fastest and most effective way to consolidate the union of the Emirates."
Reinforcing this commitment, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, declared July 18 of each year as "Union Pledge Day." The date commemorates the historic 1971 meeting where the late Sheikh Zayed and other rulers signed the Declaration of the Union and the UAE Constitution, officially announcing the Union and the nation's name. On this occasion, Sheikh Mohamed stated, "The Union Pledge Day is an occasion to commemorate the UAE's blessed journey, draw lessons and morals for the present and future, and renew the nation's pledge to God Almighty and the people of the UAE to preserve unity and progress."
These initiatives highlight the leadership's unwavering dedication to reinforcing the Union as the primary guarantee for achieving the aspirations of the UAE and its people. Moreover, they serve to educate future generations about their nation's history and the sacrifices made to realize this historic Union, ensuring the continuity of the UAE's vision and values.
2024: Achievements Across Multiple Fields
The UAE consistently adds milestones that strengthen its federal foundation and enhance its global reputation as a pioneering model of human development. Under the guidance and supervision of its wise leadership, the nation achieved significant accomplishments in 2024. Some of these notable achievements include:
1. Economic leap:
The UAE experienced a remarkable surge in foreign trade during the first half of 2024, with oil exports in six months matching annual pre-COVID-19 levels. Foreign trade approached AED 1.4 trillion, reflecting a 25% growth in non-oil exports. Highlighting this success, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, stated: "While the global growth rate for foreign trade is around 1.5%, our foreign trade has grown by 11.2% annually, as we continue to advance toward our goals."
Underscoring its commitment to boost non-oil trade to AED 4 trillion and exports to AED 800 billion by 2031, the UAE signed new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPAs). These include agreements with Mauritius and Georgia (effective June 2024) and Cambodia (effective January 2024), joining ten other agreements aimed at increasing exports by 33% and contributing over AED 153 billion to the GDP by 2031—representing a nearly 10% growth compared to 2022.
Furthermore, 2024 saw the launch of the National Investment Strategy 2031 during the UAE's annual government meetings in Abu Dhabi. The strategy envisions the UAE as a global investment hub, aiming to double cumulative foreign direct investments (FDI) between 2025 and 2031. It seeks to raise the current FDI share from 15% to 30% of total investments and increase cumulative FDI to AED 2.2 trillion by 2031.
Over the past five decades, the UAE's economy has grown 24-fold, expanding from $20 billion in 1975 to over $456 billion in 2023. Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, highlighted this remarkable transformation in November 2024. The UAE has demonstrated exceptional economic adaptability, swiftly transitioning from a traditional energy-based economy to a knowledge-driven one.
2. Leadership in technology and artificial intelligence (AI):
The UAE has prioritized artificial intelligence (AI), taking significant measures to advance its vision of global leadership in AI and its applications. Projections indicate that the UAE's investments in AI will reach AED 33 billion (approximately USD 9 billion) by the end of 2024, with plans to increase these investments to USD 50 billion by 2025. As part of its strategy, the UAE has established large-scale national companies, such as G42, to serve as a robust industrial foundation supporting the growth of this emerging sector. Furthermore, the country has forged numerous international partnerships with nations like the United States, France, and China, as well as with major corporations like Microsoft and OpenAI.
In September 2024, the UAE and the United States announced Common Principles for Cooperation on AI, endorsed by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi and National Security Advisor of the UAE. The initiative aims to deepen collaboration between the two nations, develop regulatory frameworks, ensure the safe and reliable deployment of sensitive and emerging technologies, increase support for joint public-private research, and facilitate academic exchanges between institutions in both countries.
3. Enhancing the UAE’s leadership in global indicators:
The UAE continued to strengthen its global leadership across various developmental indices throughout 2024. Ranking first globally in the list of the world's most economically stable countries, the nation surpassed Switzerland and Germany, which secured second and third positions, respectively. With a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of USD 504 billion and a per capita income of approximately USD 83,900, the UAE's economic prowess was further highlighted by its third-place ranking globally in attracting investments, according to an October 2024 report by U.S. News.
In addition to its economic achievements, the UAE secured the tenth position worldwide in the Global Soft Power Index 2024, which encompasses 193 countries. Notably, the nation claimed first place globally in the sub-index for economic strength and stability, further consolidating its position as a global leader in economic performance and resilience.
The UAE also achieved a new global milestone in gender balance, advancing to seventh place worldwide and retaining its first-place position regionally in the 2024 Gender Equality Index issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Marking a qualitative leap, the UAE's ranking on this critical index improved significantly from 49th place in 2015 and 11th place globally in the 2022 edition.
In the 2024 Global Future Opportunities Index, which measures countries' preparedness to leverage opportunities arising from global transformations, the UAE ranked first in the Arab world. Moreover, the nation achieved first place globally in 20 indicators related to readiness for future opportunities. These indicators encompass adaptability to changes, future policy-making, launching proactive government initiatives, attractiveness and stability of global talent, number of competitive working-age talents, and volume of digital future software development talents.
The UAE made a significant leap in the 2024 Global Competitiveness Report, issued by the Global Competitiveness Center of the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Rising three ranks to 7th place globally, the UAE outperformed countries such as Norway, Iceland, Japan, Canada, and Finland. Its performance was distinguished across various areas of the report: ranking second globally in economic performance, fourth in government efficiency, and tenth in business environment efficiency.
4. A foreign policy supporting global and regional stability:
Since its establishment in 1971, the UAE has pursued a transparent foreign policy centered on balanced relations, fostering global stability, and promoting dialogue. Recognizing the intricate link between peace and development, the nation has actively addressed crises in Gaza, Lebanon, and Ukraine.
In Ukraine, the UAE's diplomatic efforts have yielded significant results, facilitating nine prisoner exchange deals between Russia and Ukraine. These exchanges have led to the release of 2,184 detainees since the conflict's onset.
As for Gaza, the UAE's response to the Gaza crisis has been multifaceted and swift. From the moment the conflict erupted, the nation pursued two main paths: a diplomatic and political drive aimed at de-escalation and halting the war, and a humanitarian effort to provide urgent relief aid to the people of Gaza.
Under the directives of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, "Operation Al-Faris Al-Shahim 3" was launched, marking one of the largest relief efforts in the region. This comprehensive initiative encompassed numerous critical humanitarian projects, including an Emirati field hospital operating in the Rafah governorate of Gaza, despite ongoing military activities and risks, an Emirati floating hospital dispatched to the port of Al-Arish, and a prosthetics initiative to assist those injured and meet the needs of amputees resulting from the war.
The UAE's support for Gaza's strained healthcare system has been substantial, providing 736.25 tons of medical aid. Following presidential directives, the nation launched an initiative to evacuate 1,000 children and 1,000 cancer patients from Gaza to the UAE for specialized medical treatment.
Further expanding its humanitarian efforts, the UAE initiated a polio vaccination campaign in the region. Additionally, the nation conducted "Operation Birds of Goodness," utilizing UAE Air Force C-17 aircraft to drop humanitarian aid in isolated and otherwise unreachable areas of Gaza.
As for Lebanon, the UAE demonstrated strong support for the Lebanese people by launching the "UAE Stands with You, Lebanon" campaign under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Aimed at providing humanitarian relief, the initiative supplied essential medical, food, and shelter aid to the Lebanese population. Citizens from several nations, social groups, and communities participated widely in the campaign, with notable involvement from members of the royal family, ministers, and humanitarian and charitable organizations. These prominent figures actively contributed at various aid collection centers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Fujairah. Moreover, the campaign facilitated the dispatch of aircraft and ships loaded with diverse forms of humanitarian assistance.
The UAE's humanitarian efforts in 2024 extended far beyond these three major crises that captured global attention. Their approach consistently focused on de-escalation, fostering peace and stability, and promoting the values of tolerance and human coexistence across numerous regional and global crises.
The continuous and unwavering achievements made by the UAE, coupled with the public's strong support for its wise leadership, propel the country toward a brighter future. These factors solidify the UAE's global position and enhance its prosperity and progress, bolstering our confidence in what lies ahead. Looking forward, the UAE remains undeterred by challenges, no matter how difficult, in its pursuit of ambitious future visions.
Unsurprisingly, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has unanimously adopted the UAE National Day, corresponding to December 2, as a global day for the future. Embodying the essence of a nation focused on the future, the UAE serves as a model for all countries striving to build a prosperous future for their people.
