Mohamed Bin Zayed: UAE Armed Forces one of the strongest, most advanced in region

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has congratulated the UAE Armed Forces personnel on the 46th UAE Armed Forces Unification Day. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE believes in peace as a way to achieve people's aspirations for progress and prosperity, strengthen its foundations in the region and create suitable conditions to establish efficient partnerships and achieve development and prosperity in the region. Noting that stable and sustainable peace requires a solid force to protect it, he affirmed the UAE's stance in prioritising the development and modernisation of its Armed Forces.

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Armed Forces Unification Day a turning point, key milestone in country’s journey: UAE President

Mohammed praises role of valiant Armed Forces in UAE's security and stability

The speech of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed is as follows: My dear sons, Armed Forces officers and soldiers, congratulations on the 46th anniversary of the Armed Forces Unification Day. We celebrate this anniversary as we embark on a new era of our nation's history, through which we aim to realise great ambitions that will achieve our people's interests, the country's development and prosperity and enhance its international stature.

Our Armed Forces are in the middle of all these processes, protecting and supporting the country's capacities and inspiring confidence in a bright present and future. On this special national occasion, we commemorate the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and other fellow Founding Leaders who took the wise historic decision to unify the UAE Armed Forces on 6th May, 1976, to be the nation's shield and the cornerstone of its unity and development.

 Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed.

On the occasion, we also commemorate the sacrifices of our martyrs in all fields of action, both inside and outside the country. We proudly remember all generations of officials who served the UAE military and their valuable additions to its development and strengthening of its overall capacities with much appreciation and gratitude.

At the same time, we look forward to further development and the modernisation of our Armed Forces in the upcoming period, to remain the symbol of the UAE's pride, a protector of justice and a supporter of friends and brothers. Since the formation of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed was aware that the process of development requires a force that protects the country's achievements.

Therefore, he prioritised the development of the UAE Armed Forces, which is the approach continued by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Our Armed Forces have always addressed all the challenges facing the country and the region over the past decades and will always be the protective shield that deters enemies and their evil conspiracies.

We live in a turbulent and rapidly changing regional and international environment, which poses numerous threats and risks to the national security of countries that require us to be constantly ready and capable of addressing the fast-paced developments around us. I am confident that our valiant Armed Forces, with their national military approach, sense of patriotism and expertise and awareness of regional and international situations, can keep pace with recent developments due to efficient vision and strategies to address various risks.

The UAE Armed Forces, thanks to Allah Almighty, has become one of the strongest and most advanced armies in the region due to its ongoing development and modernisation strategy launched by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which focused on supporting our Armed Forces with excellence and readiness in the areas of training, weaponry and military education.

We are proud of the recent developments witnessed by UAE defence industries, which are now appreciated by the entire region, and the effective regional and international partnerships established by our Armed Forces, which also strengthen the military establishment and help boost our national economy by diversifying sources of income and reinforcing knowledge and technological bases.

The UAE believes that peace is the way to achieve the people's aspirations for progress and prosperity, strengthen the foundations of peace in the region, find peaceful solutions to regional crises and create suitable conditions to establish efficient partnerships to achieve growth and prosperity in the region. Nevertheless, stable, and sustainable peace requires a solid force to protect it and, therefore, the UAE prioritises the development and modernisation and its Armed Forces.

On this glorious national occasion, I salute and appreciate leading Emirati women who are contributing to the journey of our Armed Forces and have proven their ability to undertake military action efficiently. I also salute our youth who are eager to engage in the national reserve service and are keen to benefit from it, promote their capacities and increase their expertise to serve their country.

Despite the importance of advanced weapons and equipment in strengthening the capacities of our Armed Forces, the human element remains the critical component, as they are the ones who use these weapons and equipment, and they are the ones equipped with the values of patriotism and sacrifice to defend the nation.

My sons, Armed Forces officers and soldiers, on this precious national occasion, I extend my congratulations and best wishes to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates.

WAM