Abu Dhabi: The formation of the UAE as a federation was the event that inspired every citizen in the nation to feel stronger, more powerful and capable of achieving his or her goals while reaching for their dreams, Musallam Salem Bin Ham, chairman of the Bin Ham Group of Companies, said in Abu Dhabi.
Bin Ham paid tribute to the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan for being a far-sighted leader with a strong vision.
"He was a source of inspiration for all Emiratis with his strong will and determination and perseverance," Bin Ham said.
"Shaikh Zayed was a man of remarkable achievements for a country [that went] from rags to riches. He was the patron of the UAE's unity and renaissance with his very great vision and wisdom," he said.
Bin Ham said the relationship between Shaikh Zayed and every Emirati was based on mutual love, respect and appreciation.
He attributed the country's achievements to Shaikh Zayed and to his sacrifices.
Bin Ham said Shaikh Zayed devoted his life to the people and to the country that was a desert and seen as unsuitable for living.
"Once he challenged this perception, people could not believe that he would turn the desert into paradise. Experts told him that the sand in the desert [was] not suitable for plants and nothing [would] be grown in this desert. Yet, Shaikh Zayed took it as a personal challenge for him. He took an oath to turn the UAE, particularly Abu Dhabi, into a green landscape," Bin Ham said.
Unprecedented
Bin Ham said the remarkable growth of the UAE is unprecedented anywhere in the world.
"The UAE in the past was an unknown country, but now it has [gained] respect across different fields," he said.
"The UAE and Emiratis are moving ahead with constant and confident steps," Bin Ham said.
"Thanks to President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the other Rulers, who supported the scholars and economists; as well as businessmen who were supported by the government to contribute to the implementation of strategies for the development of the UAE and turning it from a poor country to a wealthy nation."
Lucrative and attractive
Today, Bin Ham said, the UAE is ranked among developed countries in some fields and every Emirati and Arab is proud of the UAE's achievements and honoured to see the UAE today with very beautiful landscapes and a mosaic of cultures.
"The UAE has become one of the most stable countries in the world, which is lucrative and attractive for others to come and live and invest," he said. He advised his fellow citizens to have ambitions, to be motivated and to volunteer to work for the best of the UAE.
"Young generations should not strive to make short-term profits. They should rather bear in mind that they can be successful if they have a strong will armed with determination. They should also love what they are doing. Their work should be for the sake of the UAE in the first place. With this in mind, they can yield and earn more than they expected," Bin Ham said.
He urged Emiratis to equip themselves with the best education and morals in order to succeed.
"We have learnt useful lessons from Shaikh Zayed, including determination, diffidence and modesty. We want to pass on these lessons to the new generation because they are the foundation of our [continued] prosperity," he said.
