Dubai Ruler urges people to thank the UAE’s ‘national shields’

In what is now an annual tradition, the Dubai Ruler has asked UAE citizens and residents to mark his accession by supporting a particular campaign - this time around, celebrating those who protect the country.

At a graduation ceremony at Al Ain's Khalifa bin Zayed Air College, members of the Armed Forces stand to attention. Donald Weber / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI // Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has asked residents to mark his accession to power by paying homage to members of the Armed Forces.

Sheikh Mohammed used his official Twitter page to ask organisations to share messages of thanks and support to Armed Forces personnel by using a new hashtag in Arabic. It translates to “Thank you, national shields” in English.

The Vice President said the military had been working silently and selflessly “to protect every inch of this land, and that’s why they deserve our deepest gratitude and most sincere thanks”.

“Our Armed Forces are one of the strongest and most advanced in the region, they are some of the best-trained and best-equipped,” he said.

“And I need to thank all those involved in such development and improvement, in particular His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, for his role in leadership and inspiration, developing and pushing our Armed Forces to be one of the best in the world.

“Thank you, guardians of our nation, for being a shield for the UAE. Thank you for answering the call of duty and for putting the country before yourselves. Thank you for giving us your absolute dedication, time and effort, night and day.”

In a series of tweets, the Ruler of Dubai also shared a YouTube video dedicated to the Armed Forces, which notes the hashtag for the new campaign.

The video starts with a salute by Armed Forces personnel and members of the public returning the salute, including an FNC member from Dubai, Afra Al Basti. The video ends with Sheikh Mohammed himself giving the salute.

“Brothers and sisters, [we have been accustomed] on January 4 of every year to cancel celebrations [of my accession] and replace it with a campaign in which we thank an important segment of society,” Sheikh Mohammed said yesterday on Twitter.

“I call on the UAE society to thank protectors of the nation. They are in every house, in every family, and continue night and day to sacrifice … for the homeland.”

In his final tweet, he wrote: “I call you to thank them with a word, a picture, a phrase, a video. Thank you to those who gave their time and effort and life to the UAE.”

Hundreds of residents have already taken part in the campaign which has gained rapid popularity.