WAM Reports Achievements Of Sheikh Zayed In July

WAM reports achievements of Sheikh Zayed in July

The UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has left a legacy full of achievements. The Emirates News Agency, WAM, in cooperation with the National Archives, NA, is reporting Sheikh Zayed's contributions and quotations from 1966 to 2004 during the month of July, to coincide with the 'Year of Zayed' 2018.

ABU DHABI, (Pakistan Point News - 05th Jul, 2018) The UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, has left a legacy full of achievements. The Emirates news Agency, WAM, in cooperation with the National Archives, NA, is reporting Sheikh Zayed's contributions and quotations from 1966 to 2004 during the month of July, to coincide with the 'Year of Zayed' 2018.

The history of the Founding Father includes notable events that took place in the month of July, which reinforced the unity of the UAE and reflected his belief in the importance of the country’s development and strengthening its ties with other countries. Sheikh Zayed insisted that the UAE must support the Arab region in its challenges, and the Palestinian issue was in his heart and mind.

July saw many key events in the process of establishing the union and reinforcing government action to serve Emirati citizens. On 6th July, 1968, Sheikh Zayed chaired the opening session of Supreme Council of Rulers (Federal Supreme Council), in Abu Dhabi, where they discussed the establishment of the Union.

On 8th July, 1989, Sheikh Zayed delivered a speech urging senior UAE officials to exert more efforts to promote the country's development. He also called on them to adopt a new approach in the management of work in ministries and government departments.

On the Arab level, the actions and meetings of Sheikh Zayed in July reflected his keenness to achieve stability in the Arab region and strengthen the unity of Arab countries, based on his firm belief in the unity of destiny and Arab security On 20th July, 1969, Sheikh Zayed arrived in Lebanon on an official visit, where he met with the Lebanese President Charles Helou to discuss bilateral ties and the situation in the middle East. Also, on 24th July, 1969, he visited Iraq and met with Iraqi President Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr to discuss mutual ties.

In furtherance of the fraternal relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Zayed visited Saudi Arabia on 29th July, 1974, and signed several bilateral agreements with King Fahad bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

On 21st July, 1985, he received Yasser Arafat, former Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, and discussed the latest developments in Palestine and the Arab region, while highlighting the UAE’s support for the Palestinian cause.

On 17th July, 1996, he met with King Hussein bin Talal of Jordan, in his residence in Geneva, where they discussed the latest developments in the peace process in the Middle East. On 16th July, 2001, he received, in Qasr Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain, and reviewed ties between their countries.

On the international relation level, Sheikh Zayed was keen to extend bridges of friendship with most of the world. He worked to harness the UAE’s international relations to support Arab causes, particularly the peace process. He also made a historic visit to France on 3rd July, 1975, and met with the former French President, Valery Giscard d'Estaing, and discussed France’s support for Arab issues.

On 1st July, 1993, Sheikh Zayed received, at his residence in Geneva, Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Secretary-General of the United Nations, and reviewed the Arab, Islamic and international developments.

In Geneva on 20th July, 2002, he met with the former French President, Jacques Chirac, who was among the key international leaders who supported the peace process in the Middle East, and they discussed the development in the Gulf region, the peace process and mutual relations.

Sheikh Zayed supported the rights of people to have a dignified life and rejected all forms of injustice and ethnic or religious oppression. On 19th July, 1995, he called on the international community to intervene to protect the Bosnian people, lift the arms embargo, and organise a donation campaign for Bosnia.

He also continued in July to promote the process of internal construction through the issuance of a series of legislative Decrees and decisions that contributed to the development of government performance and achieve more national gains.

On 7th July, 1983, he issued a decree for a ministerial reshuffle that included the separation of the Ministry of Justice from the the Ministry of Islamic Affairs and Endowments, and the establishments of the Ministry of State for Financial and Industrial Affairs. He also ratified the UAE’s membership to the "Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons" on 17th July, 1996.

On 4th July, 1999, Sheikh Zayed issued a Federal Decree to form the "Permanent Committee on Borders," which was responsible for solving land and maritime border disputes between neighbouring countries. He issued another Federal Decree on 30th July, 2003, to form the "Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood," with the aim of supporting motherhood and childhood affairs.

He also prioritised the UAE’s economy and transformed the country into an international financial and business centre. On 13th July, 1998, he issued a Federal Law related to the country’s general budget for the 1998 fiscal year, which amounted to AED21.393 billion.

On 16th July, 2000, he issued a Federal Law to establish the 'Emirates Real Estate Corporation'. On 31st July, 2001, he issued a Federal Law to establish the Emirates Services Corporation, with a capital of AED200 million, while on 6th July, 2004, he issued a Federal Law to launch the "Dubai International Financial Centre."

Sheikh Zayed created the UAE’s integrated housing system, which enabled it to cope with its population increase and the improving lifestyle of the Emirati community since the 1970s.

On 20th July, 1972, he ordered the construction of nine villages and 1,600 public housing units, which were provided to citizens from around the country. On 13th July, 1976, he ordered the construction of a new city in an area located between the two roads that lead to Al Ain and Dubai, to handle the population increase in Abu Dhabi, which was eventually called Bani Yas.

On 27th July, 1997, he directed the Abu Dhabi Municipality to build 150 public housing units in Al Shawamekh, which was worth AED155 million.

On 18th July, 1999, he issued a federal law to establish the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, with the aim of building houses and providing financial support and interest-free loans.

Sheikh Zayed continued supporting and assisting UAE citizens, and he did not hesitate to support Arab countries who were facing their numerous crises.

On 28th July, 1972, Sheikh Zayed issued a social welfare law, which identified people who are qualified to receive various levels of support. On 30th July, 1998, he directed the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, to send urgent aid shipments to Sudan, to rescue victims of famine.