In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the United Arab Emirates, Sheik Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan declares 2021 as “the year of fifty”

Sheik Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, declared 2021 “the year of the fiftieth”, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the state.

The year of 50 officially begins on April 6, 2021 and lasts until March 31, 2022.

This announcement is accompanied by the launch of initiatives, events and celebrations for a full year under the auspices of the UAE Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee.

Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, and Sheik Mariam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, vice chairman of the committee, and representatives of various federal and local state institutions are leading the committee.

The activities for the Year of 50 are focused on key pillars; It is to launch it in a celebratory spirit that includes all who consider the United Arab Emirates as a home country, and to call on the people of the nation to reflect on the values and achievements of the past, with pride and pride in our founding fathers, and to inspire young people to develop their ideas about the ambitions of the next 50 years, and to support them in achieving qualitative national achievements that enhance the march of progress and prosperity.

Sheik Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE president, said : “The year of 50 is a historic moment in our journey, which began since the declaration of the establishment of the Emirates in 1971.”

He added: “It is a celebration of the great will and the strong determination of our founding fathers to build our nation and the efforts of our compatriots so that our nation, thank God, has become one of the largest developed nations in the world.”

He valued the efforts that “have brought us together of all nationalities and contributed to the building of this young nation”.

“The year of 50 is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the past 50 years at a time when we are preparing to launch with full confidence in our next trip,” he said.

He went on to say : “The celebrations include a series of initiatives that call on all to reflect on the ancient history, noble values and unique achievements of the State, and to envision its future as we move on the centennial, with a commitment to build this future by supporting our youth and providing them with the tools and skills necessary to move forward.”

He continued : “Today’s world is changing with unprecedented speed, and this change is accompanied by many opportunities that open up the horizon for innovation and creativity… we all have to redouble our efforts, create new ideas and specific initiatives, and preserve our wealth, values and diversity of society, so that all of them may contribute to a better tomorrow and a bright future for our country.”

The UAE’s Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee was formed in December 2019 under the guidance of Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai.

The Committee is also responsible for the development and implementation of a comprehensive plan to celebrate the fiftieth year at the federal and local levels.

It is implementing a diverse agenda, covering the pillars of a strategy that includes many development initiatives aimed at driving changes through social, economic and development policies for generations to come.