Latest news with #SheikhZayed
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Preparations for 54th UAE National Day celebrations underway, says official
Preparations are now underway for the 54th Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day), and everyone who calls the UAE home is encouraged to begin preparing for this year's celebrations, it was announced on Friday, July 18, on the occasion of Union Pledge Day. This day, 54 years ago, in 1971, Sheikh Zayed and his fellow founding fathers signed the Declaration of the Union and the UAE Constitution, laying the foundation for the country's establishment on December 2, 1971, which the nation commemorates as Eid Al Etihad. 'Union Pledge Day is more than a symbolic date. It signals a collective beginning of celebration and collaboration. This year, we reaffirm our commitment to partnership and inclusion, co-creating a memorable experience for all,' said Eisa Alsubousi, director of strategic and creative affairs at Eid Al Etihad team. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. 'As the 54th Eid Al Etihad on December 2, 2025 approaches, every act of participation helps create a collective expression of national pride and shared identity, honouring the UAE's values, rich heritage, and future ambitions through meaningful moments and creative participation,' Alsubousi added. Meanwhile, a new behind-the-scenes film was released on Friday, offering an exciting look into the 53rd Eid Al Etihad official ceremony, which took place last year in Al Ain against the city's striking natural landscape of Jebel Hafeet. The short film features insights from the diverse collaborators who brought the story of the union to life, revealing the scale, creativity, and diversity at the ceremony's core. It can be watched here:
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Ajman updates hours of banning heavy vehicle movement on 2 streets
Ajman has updated the hours during which the movement of heavy vehicles on two major roads will be banned, the emirate's police said on Friday. During the morning, heavy trucks will be banned from using these streets from 5.30am to 9am, whereas in the afternoon and evening, they will not be allowed between 2pm and 9.30pm. The police authority clarified that these adjustments, which apply on Sheikh Zayed Street and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street, will go into effect starting Tuesday, July 22. Take a look at the affected streets shown on the map: On all other Ajman roads, however, a full ban on heavy vehicle movement remains in effect, the authority stated. In 2019, heavy vehicles were banned from Mohamed bin Zayed Road in Ajman, as well as on the opposite direction from Umm Al Quwain towards Sharjah from 5.30am to 12am.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
President Sheikh Mohamed speaks of strength of nation on Union Pledge Day
President Sheikh Mohamed said unity was the strength of the UAE as the country marks Union Pledge Day. It was on this date, July 18, in 1971 that UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, signed the declaration of the Union and the Constitution, while announcing that the country would be named officially as the United Arab Emirates. "On Union Pledge Day, we celebrate the blessed history of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his brothers the Rulers in working together towards establishing the Union," Sheikh Mohamed said in a post on X. "As we renew our shared commitment to sustaining the progress and prosperity of the UAE, we affirm that unity remains the strength of our nation and its continued advancement." The occasion was established to reaffirm loyalty to the homeland and celebrate the country's continued development, state news agency Wam reported. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said in a post on X that the occasion marked the day the nation's founders agreed on the resources and effort needed to build the "greatest unification project in the modern Arab world". "Today, we renew our pledge to continue building with the same spirit, the same resolve and with global ambitions for the future," Sheikh Mohammed said. The day aims to strengthen national identity and raise public awareness of the steps that propelled the UAE to its current status as a regional and global leader, Wam added.
Khaleej Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE Rulers celebrate Union Pledge Day, recall landmark moment of 'unifying vision'
Today, on July 18, exactly 54 years ago, the founding fathers came together to sign the declaration of the Union and of the UAE Constitution marking a a landmark moment in the country's history. The day, officially designated by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed last year, celebrates the key step that led to establishing a federation of emirates. The President today took to his social media platforms to congratulate the nation on the occasion. He said that on this day "we celebrate the blessed history of our Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his brothers the Rulers in working together towards establishing the Union". The Ruler of Abu Dhabi also added, "As we renew our shared commitment to sustaining the progress and prosperity of the UAE, we affirm that unity remains the strength of our nation and its continued advancement." Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Other Rulers also celebrated the occasion and highlighted the importance of the day in statements and posts on social media. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai also took to X to mark the day. He called the day one "when energies and resources aligned to build the greatest unifying vision our modern Arab world has witnessed". He added: "Today, we pledge to continue the construction with the same spirit… the same determination… and with global ambitions for the future." Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Ajman, "proudly and gratefully" celebrated the occasion in a statement. Extending warm wishes and congratulations to other leaders, while asking the Almighty "to return this glorious day upon us all while our nation continues to enjoy ever greater stability, security, and prosperity.'
Emirates 24/7
3 days ago
- Politics
- Emirates 24/7
On Union Pledge Day, UAE celebrates journey from federation to global leadership
As the UAE marks the first anniversary of the 'Union Pledge Day' on 18th July, the nation reflects on the pivotal moments that led to its unification, recalling the enduring legacy of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers, the Rulers, whose historic declaration in 1971 laid the foundations for the federation. The day is one of the most important days in the history of the UAE, as the declaration of the Union and the UAE Constitution were signed, and its name was announced, with the solid foundation for its establishment laid on 2nd December. Union Pledge Day was designated as a national occasion by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to reaffirm loyalty to the homeland and celebrate the country's continued development. The day aims to strengthen national identity and raise public awareness of the foundational steps that propelled the UAE to its current status as a regional and global leader. The occasion highlights the vision and sacrifices of the founding fathers, whose legacy continues to shape the UAE's trajectory. In his first address to the nation as President, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said, 'Today, we see our nation ranked among the most advanced nations globally, as well as being one of the best places to live and work. This was the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed and our founding fathers, and we thank God for this blessing. We will continue to follow their wise approach, drawing inspiration from their unfaltering leadership. Our history, identity, and cultural heritage will form an essential part of our plans for the future." Union Pledge Day also serves to honour the UAE's achievements in state-building and unity, forged amid complex regional dynamics. The founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed, led the country through the formation of the Arab world's first federal state and launched one of the region's largest development drives. Following Sheikh Zayed's leadership, the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan led the empowerment phase (2004–2022), strengthening institutions, promoting education, and advancing citizen participation in national development. Under his leadership, the UAE achieved record growth across economic, service, humanitarian, infrastructure, renewable energy and space exploration sectors. The country became the second-largest economy in the Arab world and the first Arab and Muslim nation to reach Mars. Sheikh Khalifa's forward-looking strategies included the Principles of the 50, UAE Vision 2021, the UAE Strategy for Government Services (2021–2025), UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, the National Space Strategy 2030, and the UAE's Net Zero 2050 Strategy. Since 2022, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE has continued to achieve major milestones across economic, social, political and development domains. The country continues to rank highly in regional and global competitiveness indices. Economic diversification has gained momentum, with significant growth in tourism, trade, financial services, industry, real estate, telecoms and technology. The Central Bank of the UAE expects real GDP to expand by 4.4 percent in 2025, fuelled by rising foreign investment and robust non-oil sectors. In Q1 2025, non-oil foreign trade reached AED835 billion, with exports hitting a record AED177.3 billion in the first three months of 2025. Over the past five decades, the UAE economy has witnessed remarkable growth across key sectors, with the country's GDP rising from AED58.3 billion in 1975 to AED17 trillion in 2024. During the same period, foreign trade surged from AED11.5 billion to AED5.23 trillion. In January, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed declared 2025 the 'Year of Community,' aimed at strengthening intergenerational ties and social cohesion. The government allocated AED27.9 billion—39 percent of the 2025 federal budget—to social development, underscoring its commitment to citizen welfare and cultural preservation. Internationally, the UAE remains a key partner in peacebuilding and humanitarian efforts. Guided by values of tolerance and coexistence, the country actively supports global stability and justice. Since its founding, the UAE has provided AED368 billion in foreign aid, benefiting more than one billion people worldwide across humanitarian and development sectors.
