Created 32 years agoUAE celebrates anniversary [Archives:2003/693/Local News]

Yasser Mohammed Al-Mayyasi
The United Arab Emirates celebrated its 32nd National Day on Dec. 2. The creation of the Emirates Union occurred in 1971, included the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ujman, Al-Fujairah and Umm Al-Guwain.
It marked an historic foundation in which they endorsed an agreement to unite and ratify a constitution defining the goals of the state.
In 1972, the last emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah joined the Union which completed the seven-emirate union.
Under the leadership of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, the UAE. adopted clear policies with its sister Arab countries, especially Gulf states, and the rest of the world.
It worked on strengthening ties among the Gulf states that the creation of the Gulf Cooperation Council was announced from Abu Dhabi in 1981.
The United Arab Emirates has also played important and dynamic roles in Arab League, Organization of Islamic Conference, United Nations, and other Arab and international organizations to realize the Arab solidarity in facing their challenges.
The UAE followed effective strategies that realized tremendous and quick developments in various fields, under the leadership of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, emerging as a contemporary government which made use of the appropriate means that offered social and economic prosperity.
In recent years, and in spite of economic recession prevailing in the region, it realized notable economic advancements. For example, the UAE's economy is marked by high growth rates that the annual revenue reached 229 billion Dirhams in 2002.
This was reflected upon the living standards of its citizens that the annual income per capita reached 16,000 Dirhams in the same year, which is considered on the highest in the world.
The oil sector realized successive growth rates especially in the field oil-related industries, and production development recording an oil reserve of 98 billion barrels at the end of 2002.
This rated the UAE as third country in world in terms of oil reserves, and the forth in the field of natural gas reserves.
Despite its oil wealth, the UAE has adopted policies of diversifying its income resources realizing a revenue of 199.2 billion Dirhams in 2002 form non-oil related industries.
The agriculture, construction, electricity, water, and industry sectors also realized a revenue of 140 billion Dirhams in the same year.
The free trade zone in Dubai is considered a critical element in realizing economic advancements in the UAE where education, health, social welfare, and transportation sectors realized notable growth rates. The achievements of the UA. remain a glowing witness on the determination of the government of the UAE which does more than it says.
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