The UAE’s 53rd Union Day: A Journey of Historic Achievements Leading to a Bright Future

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The United Arab Emirates is celebrating its 53rd Union Day today, Monday, at a time when its achievements are growing, its stature is rising, and its leadership is strengthening.

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This year’s celebration carries special significance for several reasons, chief among them being the recent addition of an important occasion to the UAE’s national calendar. President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan designated July 18 of each year as the “Union Pact Day.”

This decision commemorates the historic meeting held on this day in 1971, where the late founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, along with his fellow rulers, signed the “Union Pact” and the UAE Constitution, officially proclaiming the establishment of the United Arab Emirates.

This historic meeting marked a pivotal step in the founding of the UAE Union on December 2 of the same year.

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The establishment of the Union on December 2, 1971, through the efforts of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in collaboration with the rulers of the Emirates, stands as the greatest historical achievement of the nation.

This event marked the beginning of a true renaissance, leading to a journey of historic achievements that continue to this day under the leadership of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with the ultimate goal of achieving the UAE Centennial 2071 Vision to make the UAE the best and most advanced country in the world.

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Strengthening Partnerships

This year’s Union Day celebration is particularly important as it coincides with the UAE’s efforts to strengthen its developmental partnerships with various countries worldwide. These efforts culminated a month ago with the signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with Australia on November 6, following similar agreements with Vietnam, Serbia, and Jordan during the same month.

These agreements aim to expand the UAE’s global partnership network, reinforce its position as a global trade hub, and support its national objectives, including increasing the value of non-oil foreign trade to AED 4 trillion by 2031.

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Promoting Peace: A Consistent Leadership

The celebration also comes as the UAE continues its efforts to support security and peace worldwide.

These efforts were crowned by a successful mediation between Kyiv and Moscow on October 18, resulting in the exchange of 190 prisoners of war between the two sides. Overall, the UAE has facilitated nine mediations this year, enabling the exchange of 2,184 prisoners, an unprecedented diplomatic and humanitarian achievement.

The UAE is also working to find solutions to global crises, including in Ukraine, Sudan, and Palestine, while continuing its humanitarian efforts to aid Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan.

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Achievements beyond the Sky

Finally, this occasion comes as the Union’s flag proudly soars amid the UAE’s accomplishments across various fields, from land to space.

On November 6, the UAE announced a scientific project for polar research, joining the ranks of leading nations in this domain

A step driven by significant objectives, the most notable being the enhancement of the UAE’s presence on international scientific platforms, thereby strengthening its soft power. This also inspires the next generation in new specialized sciences and contributes to the development of national scientific capabilities. Furthermore, it reflects the UAE’s commitment to global climate action and important environmental issues, through providing solutions and technological applications to address them.

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This occasion also coincides with the UAE’s participation in a new phase of the second study under the UAE Space Simulation Program, featuring Emirati Obaid Al Suwaidi, as part of the research into simulating human exploration missions under the “HERA” program.

The mission, which began early last month, will continue until mid-December in the “HERA” complex, covering 650 square feet at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. This analog mission allows researchers to simulate the requirements of long-duration space missions, such as those headed to Mars, in order to better understand how astronauts will handle the extreme physical and psychological challenges posed by these future missions.

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During this Earth-based mission, the crew will conduct a variety of experiments, including simulating “walking” on the surface of Mars using virtual reality, as well as activities like vegetable cultivation and shrimp farming.

The “HERA” studies mainly focus on assessing the long-term effects of isolation and confinement on crew performance and their physical and mental health.

The UAE’s participation in previous stages of the second study under the UAE Space Simulation Program underscores its growing role in global space exploration efforts.

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This significant occasion this year also comes as preparations for the launch of the “Mohamed bin Zayed Sat” satellite continue, with an imminent launch.

The launch of “Mohamed bin Zayed Sat” marks a milestone in the UAE’s technological advancement, as it was entirely developed and built by a team of Emirati engineers, with local companies contributing to the manufacturing of nearly 90% of its mechanical structure and most of its electronic units.

The “MBZ-SAT” satellite was developed at the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre in Dubai to become the most advanced civil satellite in the region in the field of high-definition and clarity satellite imagery. It is equipped with an “automated system” to organize images 24/7, ensuring the provision of photos that match the highest standards of precision for commercial satellite imagery worldwide.

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Since the beginning of 2024, the UAE has announced a series of ambitious projects in space exploration, including joining the development and creation of the lunar “Gateway” space station alongside the United States, Japan, Canada, and the European Union. Additionally, they announced the launch of the first Emirati and Arab astronaut to lunar orbit.

The UAE will be responsible for operating the station’s pressure equalization unit for up to 15 years, with the possibility of extension.

The UAE will hold a permanent seat and scientific contributions in the largest lunar and space exploration program. It will be among the first countries to send an astronaut to the moon and will have priority access to the scientific and engineering data provided by the station, further enhancing its scientific journey.

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From space to Earth, the UAE achieved a historic feat with the commercial operation of the fourth station of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant on September 5, marking the first time all four stations have been fully operational.

The four Barakah stations, which represent the first peaceful nuclear reactor in the Arab world, now produce 40 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, providing up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs without carbon emissions, which is enough to power 16 million electric vehicles. As a result, the Barakah stations have become the largest contributor to reducing the carbon footprint in the country and the region, preventing 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions every year, which is equivalent to removing 4.6 million cars from the roads annually.

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This milestone was crowned with the announcement, on November 18, of the new identity of the “Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation”, which has now become “The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company”. This move confirms its development as a local entity contributing strategically to energy security, while aiming to become a global leader in the nuclear energy sector.

Following the launch of its new identity, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan welcomed the delegation of “The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company” and praised their efforts in managing strategic national projects, wishing them success in supporting the progress and sustainable prosperity of their country.

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He confirmed that the UAE is confidently and ambitiously moving toward the future, with the determination of its qualified talents, highlighting the importance of their role in leading vital national projects to ensure the sustainability of the country’s resources and to enhance its global position in transitioning to clean energy sources, meeting the demands of both the present and future.

In an energy-related matter, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan chaired the annual meeting of ADNOC’s Board of Directors on November 27.

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During the meeting, he approved the launch of the new investment company “XRG” in the field of low-emission energy and chemicals, aimed at accelerating ADNOC’s international business growth and enhancing its value. The company will focus on investing in projects that contribute to meeting the growing global demand for natural gas, chemicals, and low-carbon energy. Before the meeting, the President of the UAE visited ADNOC’s Artificial Intelligence Center, where he was briefed on some AI solutions implemented by ADNOC, including the world’s first use of the “RoboWell” system for automated well control, and the AI laboratory that aims to define and shape high-value AI use cases across the company’s operations.

He was also briefed on the “AI for Future Energy” solution, the first of its kind based on “AI agents” systems, recently launched by ADNOC in collaboration with AIQ, G42, and Microsoft. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with a group of young Emirati employees who lead AI initiatives.

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He praised ADNOC’s efforts in empowering young Emirati talent and implementing several strategic initiatives aimed at developing and refining the skills of its workforce, emphasizing that human resources represent the country’s greatest wealth.

The Longest Federal Experiment

These accomplishments strengthen the success of the longest federal experiment in the Arab world, which has lasted for 53 years, through the efforts and wisdom of its enlightened leadership.

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The founding of the UAE on December 2, 1971, is not just an important historical milestone but also an inspiring story for the entire world, filled with lessons and teachings about the value and importance of unity, belief in goals, generosity, perseverance, challenge, loyalty, and success.

It is the story of seven rulers united by a dream of unity, seeking to develop their emirates, enhance their independence, and achieve the well-being of their people. They agreed to establish a strong entity, united under one flag, and their efforts were crowned with success with the declaration of the union on December 2, 1971, announcing to the world the creation of the first federal state in the Arab world.

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