Growing for the welfare of the people

On this day, Monday, Dec. 2, 2002, the United Arab Emirates celebrates the 31st Anniversary of its National Day.

Since its establishment as a federation in 1971, the UAE which comprises of seven Emirates, namely Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah, has been ruled by His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as its president.

He was re-elected for a further five-year term in December 2001. Sheikh Zayed has a unique and wise style of leadership. His far-sightedness and the principled positions he has adopted on issues of importance for the Arab and Islamic nations have also earned him widespread international recognition.

His style of leadership is characterized by two distinct features, his own philosophy as a leader who sets an example of how responsibilities should be discharged, and his belief in the principle of "Shura", democratic consultation.

In implementing this democratic approach, Sheikh Zayed has displayed his keenness to meet with the people through tours of urban as well as rural areas, and to discuss with the people. In his program of building the country, Sheikh Zayed has ensured that priority is given to the human resources, believing that the people are the fundamental component of and motive for development.

The UAE has established a distinct national identity through consolidation of its federal status and enjoy an enviable degree of political stability. The UAE's political system, which is a unique combination of the traditional and the modern, has underpinned this political success, enabling the country to develop a modern administrative structure while at the same time ensuring that the best of the traditions of the past are maintained, adapted and preserved.

As it is with the rest of the world, the UAE found last year that a major part of its foreign policy concerns was the international campaign against terrorism that developed after the 11 September attacks against Washington and New York. The UAE's condemnation of the attacks, where over 4,000 people died, was swift and total.

"At this time of tragedy, our hearts are filled with sadness and compassion for the victims of the terrible and criminal acts that took place in New York and Washington, and we send again our condolences to you, the people of the United States and, in particular, the families of the victims," Sheikh Zayed told President Bush in a message shortly after the attacks.

The provision of disaster and development aid to the needy in the country and abroad has been an important aspect of the UAE's policy since the establishment of the State. A number of organizations are involved in the distribution of aid, most notably the UAE Red Crescent Society, the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the Zayed Humanitarian and Charitable Foundation, and the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Humanitarian Charity Establishment-Dubai.

The UAE economy experienced significant growth in the year 2000. This was primarily due to the increase in oil prices. A significant result of this strong economic performance was a reduction in the general budget deficit and an increase in the balance of trade surplus from Dh17.4 billion in 1999 to Dh46.7 in the Year 2000.

Investment rose from Dh53.9 billion to Dh55.4 billion, while inflation was only 1.4 per cent. During the year 2001, a report from the IMF on the UAE economy reported favorably on the progress being made, a feature that will help the country to make the necessary changes incumbent upon its status as a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The UAE has the third largest recoverable oil reserves in the world, around 98 billion barrels and are likely to last for the next 150 years. It is also fourth in the world in its proven natural gas reserves of 6.2 trillion standard cubic metres. Installed production capacity is over 2.6 million barrels of oil a day, although the current OPEC quota determines its actual production. As a result of further investment in the sector, the UAE's oil production capacity is expected to reach 3.6 mbpd in the year 2005 and 4.0 mpbd in the year 2010.

Annual natural gas gross production stands currently at 38.9 billion cubic metres.

The non-oil sector accounts for more than two-thirds of the UAE's GDP. Initially, the country's efforts to step up industrial development focussed mainly on construction, food, canning the garment sectors. This was followed by new major industries, especially aluminum production. The construction industry boosted demand for cement, cement blocs, PVC pipes etc, while the aluminum industry has spawned many companies using aluminum as their raw material.

Today, however, the development of the UAE's travel and tourism industries is considered likely to play the major role in future expansion of the non-oil sector, whilst the further consolidation of the UAE's free zones will be a crucial catalyst for industrial growth.

Tourism is now one of the fastest developing components of the UAE economy. The basic ingredients of tourism - a warm sunny climate, a beautiful natural environment and a rich culture - were all present in the UAE before it launched its major tourism development program over a decade ago. The fact that it offers a peaceful, safe environment and is strategically located on the main air route between Europe to the north-west and Asia, Africa and Australia to the east and south, were key factors that made UAE tourism development a viable business strategy. All that was required was to build the facilities to match and to tap into the huge potential.

National production of vegetables in the UAE meets 83 percent of the country's needs. Dates production totally fulfills the requirements, and excess quantities are exported. UAE farms meet 80 percent of the fresh milk requirement and the country is totally self-sufficient in fish production.

The government supports various housing schemes for its citizens. It donates land for house building and provides grants, house plans and long-term loans to help people build their own homes.

Enormous strides have been made in economic and infra- structural development in the UAE in the past 31 years. As can be expected, these unprecedented changes, together with a rapid increase in population following decades of immigration (from about 86,000 in 1958 to about 3.2 million today) have had an enormous impact on the lives of the UAE citizens.

Despite the undeniable improvements that have been made in the standard of living in the UAE, there is an awareness that vulnerable members of society can be at risk in even the most developed nations.

The government has therefore instituted a comprehensive federal social welfare system operated by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

The provision of a high standard education is recognized as a fundamental component of the government's strategy to encourage the UAE's young people to play a productive role in the social and economic development of the country. Free education from kindergarten to university level is provided for all UAE nationals.

In the academic year of 2000-2001 there were around 640,000 students, 322,250 educated in 747 government schools and 234,540 in 426 private schools. UAE youth have ready access to higher education, at the UAE University in Al-Ain, at the Zayed University in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, at 11 Higher Colleges of Technology throughout the country and at the many internationally-accredited private institutions as well as in special colleges established, for example, by the Armed Forces and ETISALAT, the country's telecommunication provider.

Women in particular have whole-heartedly embraced the impressive educational opportunities made available to them. Female students are in the majority at all levels of higher education in the country. Women are also achieving excellent results in their studies, outstripping their male counterparts at every turn. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Sheikh Zayed's wife and Chair-Person of the General Women's Union, has said that women have no choice but to excel in education to compensate for the long years that they have endured without the light of knowledge prior to the establishment of the Federation. Equal access to education is zealously guarded.

Access to education has given UAE women the opportunity to participate alongside men in the development of their country. Today, UAE women are making their presence felt in the society as civil servants, university professors, teachers, lawyers, engineers, doctors, under-secretaries, business women, administrators, and as members of the police force and the army.

The belief that women are entitled to take their place in society is grounded in the UAE Constitution which guarantees the principle of social justice for all, in accordance with the precepts of Islam. Under the Constitution, women enjoy the same legal status, claim to titles, access to education, and the same rights to practice professions as men. The guarantees enshrined in the Constitution have been carried through into implementing legislation.

On health improvement, during the year 2000, the Ministry of Health has continued efforts to improve and modernize its health- care services by introducing state-of-the-art diagnosis, curative and preventive systems. The implementation of these and other plans have further enhanced the network of health and medical facilities in the UAE which have now been acknowledged by the World Health Organization as being on a par with those of industrialized nations.

Preservation of the UAE's rich cultural heritage is a Government policy. Private and public cultural centers, research centers and libraries, museums and heritage centers have been established throughout the Emirates, helping to promote cultural awareness in the country and abroad.

Prominent cultural organizations are: The Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi, The Cultural & Scientific Forum in Dubai, The Department of Culture & Information in Sharjah, The Fujairah Cultural Organization, The Studies & Archives Center in Ras Al Khaimah, and The Juma Al Majid Center.

It is the UAE policy to encourage a free press, subject only to normal constraints, underpinning the spiritual, moral and political integrity of the country and its people. Minister of Information & Culture, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has stressed that the UAE pursues a policy of promoting greater self- confidence in the media and of encouraging freedom of expression.

Major strides have been made in the sphere of environment development and protection in the past year and environment matters remain high priority on the political agenda.

Sports and sporting facilities in the UAE have benefited enormously from the consistent support provided by the Government and the leadership since the foundation of the State. The primary focus has been on encouraging the youth to develop their physical skills through sports.

The United Arab Emirates is a major exhibition and event organizer in the Middle East. With its excellent infrastructure, world-class hotels and conference facilities, the UAE is an ideal location for international conferences, conventions and corporate meetings. The staging of these events is a key component in tourism development, providing a valuable boost to hotels and other visitor services.