Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid completes 15 years as Dubai Ruler

Our Correspondent

On the 15th anniversary of his Accession Day on January 4, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, highlighted the key milestones that have made the UAE a leading nation in the region and the world. In an open letter to the people of the UAE, he discussed the major achievements starting with the first federal strategy of 2007 to the announcement of the UAE Vision 2021 back in 2009.

Recalling the major economic leaps reaped through efficient government performance, he wrote, “Our economy is the second biggest in the Arab world, and our country is ranked the first regionally in attracting foreign investment and facilitating business. We are leading regionally in more than 437 global indicators, and our sovereign credit rating is the highest in the region.”

On January 4, 2006, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid became the Ruler of Dubai following the death of his elder brother Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the then Ruler of Dubai. On January 5, the members of the UAE Supreme Council elected Sheikh Mohammed the Vice-President of the UAE. On February 11, President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan nominated Sheikh Mohammed the Prime Minister of the UAE, which was approved by the Council.

Since then, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has been leading the UAE through an astounding development journey, spearheaded primarily by young men and women who are empowered to innovate and actively take part in the country’s achievements. Sheikh Mohammed’s leadership is based on the principle of investing in human capital as he believes that people are the basis of any nation’s success. Thanks to his futuristic vision, the UAE has been leading on regional and global fronts across many developmental fields.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid wrote: “We shifted 2,500 government services from traditional to smart, and the UAE government was ranked the second in the world in financial efficiency….We doubled the federal budget by 130 per cent and boosted our competitiveness to make the UAE rank the first globally in 121 indicators across various fields. Our work is nowhere near the end.

The UAE passport has become the most powerful passport in the world. The level of security and safety in the UAE surpassed 95%, the highest in the world. Our country is ranked the first globally in economic stability, the first in the rate of accredited hospitals, the first in easy access to electricity services, the first in mobile broadband speed and the second globally in the adaptability to change.”

The Dubai Ruler remembered the support of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, in all aspects of federal government work.

Wish the best to the youth of the country he reminded that “we have a long journey ahead, a brighter future awaits us, and our journey for the next 50 years is to begin”.