Emiratis pay tribute to leaders who keep them safe

On the 39th anniversary of the unification of the armed forces, Emiratis expressed their love and support by paying tributes to the leaders of the UAE.

National service conscripts at the Liwa training center. Wam

ABU DHABI // Emiratis have expressed their love and support by paying tributes to leaders on the anniversary of the UAE Armed Force.

“It’s important to have a strong army protecting our nation from all the threats it’s facing,” said Abdulrahman Al Fazari, 33, an engineer.

“It’s a trying time for the region, with so many groups acting on their own agendas for their own political gains.

“Our leadership has dealt strongly and swiftly in combating those threats and groups. We are lucky and blessed to be enjoying such stability and security unlike the many broken segments of this region that is so volatile.

“Being stable in the midst of such volatility is not an easy thing. Only shrewd leaders like Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed are capable of achieving that.

“I can’t emphasise enough how lucky we are with stability. I can work and raise a family without worrying much for our livelihood. May this continue for generations to come.”

______________________________________________________________

United Emirates, United Gulf

Sheikh Khalifa: "The security, stability and peace we enjoy today ... are the result of their insight."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid: "Our individual strength is the key to security, peace, and stability of our nation."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed: "The UAE aspires to contribute to restoring balance in the region by restoring stability and security."

______________________________________________________________

Salha Al Kebsi, 57, who has children serving in the military, said: “We didn’t have that many threats a few years ago. The times are not the same but I’m proud that my children are serving their country. Our country has given us so much and its only fair that we give something in return.

“Operation Decisive Storm is still going on. I pray for everybody involved and I hope that conflicts everywhere in the Arab and Islamic world come to an end so we can go back to a better place of peace and security.”

Ahmed Al Ahbabi, 23, a student at the Petroleum Institute, said: “We don’t know what challenges the future might bring but I believe if we continue along this path that was set for us under our wise leadership, there wouldn’t be anything that we can’t overcome.

“This occasion is momentous for us to come together as a nation to thank our leaders and our Armed Forces, which are working so hard to serve this union and preserve the peace and stability of our beloved country.”

Some took to Twitter using an anniversary hashtag. The Minister of Education, Hussain Al Hammadi, posted a hadith on his personal account: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Two eyes will not be touched by Hellfire: an eye that cries from the fear of Allah, and an eye that spent the night in a guard post in the path of Allah’.”

Novelist Sultan Al Rumaithi tweeted: “This year in particular, national service recruits will interact with this anniversary after they have obtained the honour of the service and lived through the recruitment journey.

“Omar” posted another hadith: “To guard the Muslim territory for a day and a night is much better than a month’s nights praying and fasting.”

Another user tweeted: “An honour to a great nation, and what might we think of at any time, honour of the nation is my homeland, and the mirror of my triumph, and my spears in the face of tribulations.”