2013 - year for emiratisation

Mohammed Bin Rashid: “We announce on Tuesday from this place that the year 2013 will be a year of creating jobs for UAE nationals. This will be a national priority for which all efforts must unite”. His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, asserted on Tuesday that the work methodology of the federal government is inspired by the approach of the country’s founding fathers and its march is paced with the national programme of the President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Chairing the cabinet meeting on Tuesday at the Union House, Shaikh Mohammed also announced 2013 as the year of creating jobs for UAE nationals, a goal to be achieved through joining forces and uniting energies. During this period a range of initiatives and policies will be launched to deal with the Emiratisation as a national priority at all levels. The Prime Minister launched a large set of national initiatives during the cabinet meeting to mark the occasion of the 41st National Day of the UAE. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt. General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the meeting. “It was from the Union House it started, and from here we renew the march. We haven’t gathered here on Tuesday to commemorate the memories. We are here to renew our resolve, to sharpen our energies and to recall the spirit of the big ambition that the founding fathers cherished. We are here to remember the great vision that led to the birth of a country, which could consolidate its global place during forty-one years. It is with the same spirit and the same great ambition we can proceed with confidence and strength towards the future”, Shaikh Mohammed said addressing the ministers”. He continued: “The most important characteristic of the founding fathers and the most important lesson we learned from them is that the citizen is the priority, and we should give importance to building humans before building edifices. The approach of my brother His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is that that the citizen comes first, second and third. As we move further ahead according to this approach we say that the achievements of 2013 will surpass the achievements of 2012 and each year is better than the preceding one. So there is no place for laziness or reluctance in achieving the ambitions of our people. We announce on Tuesday from this place that the year 2013 will be a year of creating jobs for UAE nationals, that will be a national priority for which all efforts must unite”. Shaikh Mohammed went on: “The spirit of the union is to work as a single team in accordance with a unified vision and well-defined goals, and naturally the achievement will take place. May I remind you of a very famous saying of our beloved father the late Shaikh Zayed who said: ‘The human being will perish, the wealth will perish, the nation and our services in the cause of the nation will remain’. The cabinet approved at its meeting on Tuesday a set of national initiatives, the first of which was to declare year 2013 as the year of creating jobs for UAE nationals. The Cabinet also approved the “Charter of Values and Conduct of the UAE National” which aims to raise a national generation who are aware of their responsibilities and duties towards the nation, family and community. The new charter defines Emirati citizenship, its dimensions, features, major characteristics, conduct, values and skills which a national should uphold. The charter aims to develop a general and clearly-defined frame for Emirati character to reflect its unique culture and connection to its values, traditions, heritage and its religion, Islam. This general frame could be used in different educational and cultural spheres. The Cabinet gave directions to circulate and popularize this national charter to all relevant bodies to use it as a reference for all efforts to build the UAE national generations. The Cabinet also approved a number of initiatives related to the dedication of the UAE National Union Day. These include the construction of the Union Museum at the Union House to document the history of the Union, its milestones and major figures for the coming generations. The planned museum will feature documents, pictures, photos and materials and other resources which will document the history of the Union and milestones and create a reference for researchers, all those interested in the history of the Union as well as for the nationals and visitors of the UAE. In the same context, the Cabinet also approved a resolution giving directives to the Ministry of Education to integrate the History of the Founding Fathers in the national curricula at schools in order to inspire lessons from their march for development and immortalize their works and achievements which, over few years, gave the UAE its current international stature. As part of efforts to promote the UAE national identity at universities, the Cabinet gave directives to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to introduce “Emirati Studies” as a compulsory subject for graduation from all national and private universities. The new compulsory subject shall include studies on the UAE’s history, social culture, terrains, geography, laws and regulations as well as studies that are specific to the society of the UAE. The Cabinet also dedicated 19th of Ramadan, which marks the death anniversary of the late founding father of the UAE Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as an “Emirati Humanitarian Work Day” in recognition of his role in founding the UAE’s march of humanitarian work. Shaikh Mohammed mmented: “Zayed is the source of giving and generosity. He is the one who planted the love of selfless giving among his people. The man who is credited with this surplus must be remembered on this day. The best way to remember him- May Allah bless his soul- is to remind of his compassion, giving and generosity which benefited all with no discrimination and which made the UAE as a global humanitarian hub for giving”. The Emirati Humanitarian Work Day will also include the launch of initiatives by government and private institutions in celebration of the death anniversary of the late founding father of the UAE Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Also on Tuesday, the Cabinet approved a resolution to task the Ministry of Public Works to construct high poles for the UAE flag in all the emirates of the UAE, to be added to the two high posts already in place in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The Cabinet issued another resolution obliging all federal and local departments to put a flag pole in front of their buildings. All standards and specifications for the flag posts will be issued in one unified policy that treats the flag with respect and dignity it deserves and preserves its colors and elegance at all federal and local departments. The Cabinet also approved a national initiative under the name “Proudly Made in the UAE”. It tasked the Ministry of Economy with developing a general governmental policy to develop national products and promote pride in their quality, whether they are services or national companies, through a quality mark to be placed on all national products, projects and services. The products with this mark will represent the quality of UAE products and will meet its internationally recognized standards. The Cabinet also approved an initiative to support small and medium size enterprises (SME) of the UAE youth through committing 10% of all purchases of all federal ministries and departments. Shaikh Mohammed further commented: ”We will support the UAE youth, products and culture because the UAE is the source of our pride and our people are the source of our dignity”.