His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, along with the Crown Princes, today witnessed the graduation ceremony of the 8th batch of National Service male recruits and the 6th batch of its female recruits, at Zayed Military City, in the presence of the families of the graduates.

Present were H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras al-Khaimah, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra, H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler`s Representative in Al Ain, H.H.Sheikh Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler's Representative, H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, H.H. Sheikh Omar bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs (ZHO), Pilot Staff-Brigadier Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority, Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, diplomats, military attaches and relatives of the graduates.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed expressed his pride of the graduate recruits of the National Service, who answered the call of the nation. "Our happiness surges as we see their determination and raised heads, full of resolve, will and resolution, which is exactly the same as the volunteers of 1990, who stood in front of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. This place contains immortal symbolism and memories," he said.

"There is no better feeling for the leader, father and nation than to see their children graduate to the fields of pride and honour with confident steps while gathering around their leadership proud of their roots, identity and belonging to this great land," he added.

"I trust that this national spirit and zeal will continue with the graduates as they perform their national duty in all areas, because they can fulfill their responsibilities and are aware of the greatness of their tasks, and they express, in their daily actions, the truest meanings of love and belonging to the nation and loyalty to its leadership, which makes us feel proud and reassured about the nation’s future," His Highness Sheikh Mohamed further added.

He stressed that the UAE, under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan is working to empower and prepare the nation’s youngsters while teaching them the highest level of skills and making them constantly prepared, to continue the nation’s advancement and preserve its successes and accomplishments.

H.H. Sheikh Mohamed noted that the UAE Armed Forces is the nation’s impenetrable fort and the pride of every Emirati home. "Through them, we will all sacrifice ourselves for the nation, and it will remain, with the help of Allah Almighty, strong and proud, due to their sacrifices, actions, honourable stances and professional military capabilities," he further said.

The ceremony began with the arrival of Sheikh Mohamed to its location, where he was received by Pilot Staff-Major General Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the National and Reserve Service Authority, Mohammed bin Ahmad Al Bawardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs, Lt. General Hamad Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithi, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, as well as other senior officials from the Armed Forces.

After playing the national anthem, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed inspected the graduates’ column formation, which was followed by the recital of verses from the Quran.

Staff Major General Faisal Al Shehhi, Commander of Solitary Training in the Armed Forces, gave a speech welcoming H.H. Sheikh Mohamed and his honouring of the graduation ceremony of the 8th batch of National Service recruits and the 6th batch of its female recruits, after they successfully completed the first stage of their 16-week basic training, where they received instructions on using weapons, shooting, physical fitness, field and battle skills, fighting in urban areas, internal security and infantry training. He added that the field hosting the ceremony represents high moral values, as the site witnessed, in 1990, the graduation of the first batch of recruits, under the generous patronage of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. He then pointed out that today’s ceremony coincides with two great anniversaries, Commemoration Day and National Day - two national occasions that are closely linked to the people’s love for the nation.

The graduates then took their oath and chanted three times to dedicate their lives to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Their column passed in front of the main platform in the form of a military parade, which reflected their newly-acquired field skills.

Several military vehicles and armoured cars participated in the demonstration column that included the latest model of NIMR multi-purpose military vehicles, which is the most advanced equipment produced by the UAE defence industries that were launched 10 years ago by the Tawazun Economic Council.

At the end of the ceremony, the audience watched a film that documented the graduation of the first batch of recruits, who answered the nation’s call in 1990, and the words of Sheikh Zayed that praised the national spirit of the nation’s youth during that period of the nation’s journey