UAE Day Of Solidarity Fourth Anniversary Highlights National Unity And Resilience

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended a special session on 17 January 2026 marking the fourth anniversary of the Day of Solidarity. The event reviewed how the UAE community, including citizens and residents, responds to threats, and how this unity supports national security, social stability and continued development.

The Day of Solidarity is linked to the terrorist attack that struck the UAE on 17 January 2022. That incident became a reference point for assessing national readiness. It showed how institutions and the wider public acted together, and how shared responsibility helped contain the impact while keeping the country’s progress on track.

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Speakers from military and civilian sectors described the UAE’s approach to social cohesion as a strategic strength. They explained that the challenges of 17 January 2022 did not weaken public confidence. Instead, those events strengthened internal unity, deepened cooperation among institutions and reinforced trust in the leadership’s ability to manage complex security situations.

The session also underlined that the UAE community is viewed as the first line of defence. Participants said public awareness, combined with robust security systems, forms a core pillar of national protection. They highlighted ongoing readiness across social and security sectors, stating that capabilities are designed to respond effectively regardless of the type of threat.

The event brought together senior members of the UAE leadership and government. Their attendance signalled institutional backing for the Day of Solidarity and its message. Key figures from federal and emirate-level entities joined the discussions, which focused on resilience, service, and the role of national institutions in safeguarding the country’s long-term stability.

The session was also attended by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, President of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group; H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the National Olympic Committee; Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Adviser to UAE President; and several other sheikhs, ministers and senior officials.

Day of Solidarity UAE Armed Forces perspective

Lieutenant General Engineer Issa Saif bin Ablan Al Mazrouei, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, described the anniversary as a moment to recognise steadfastness and duty. He said the day represents how the nation stood firm under aggression, maintained its path toward prosperity, and remembers the actions and sacrifices of UAE Armed Forces personnel.

Across the session, participants linked the Day of Solidarity with a broader culture of responsibility in the UAE. They stressed that lessons from 17 January 2022 continue to shape security planning, community engagement and institutional coordination, ensuring that unity, preparedness and loyalty remain central features of national life in the coming years.

With inputs from WAM