UAE Celebrates Union Pledge Day And Its Journey To Global Leadership

The UAE commemorates the first anniversary of "Union Pledge Day" on 18th July, reflecting on its journey to unification. This day honours the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and other rulers whose declaration in 1971 established the federation. The Union's foundation was laid on 2nd December, marking a significant milestone in UAE history with the signing of the Constitution and announcement of its name.

President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan designated Union Pledge Day as a national occasion to reaffirm loyalty to the homeland. It celebrates the UAE's ongoing development and aims to strengthen national identity by raising awareness of the foundational steps that propelled the nation to its current status as a regional and global leader.

The vision and sacrifices of the founding fathers continue to shape the UAE’s path. In his first address as President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed stated, "Today, we see our nation ranked among the most advanced nations globally, as well as being one of the best places to live and work. This was the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed and our founding fathers, and we thank God for this blessing. We will continue to follow their wise approach, drawing inspiration from their unfaltering leadership. Our history, identity, and cultural heritage will form an essential part of our plans for the future."

Union Pledge Day also honours achievements in state-building amid complex regional dynamics. The late Sheikh Zayed led the formation of the Arab world’s first federal state and initiated one of its largest development drives. His leadership laid a strong foundation for unity and progress in the UAE.

Following Sheikh Zayed’s era, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan led from 2004 to 2022 during what is known as the empowerment phase. He focused on strengthening institutions, promoting education, and enhancing citizen participation in national development. Under his leadership, sectors like economy, infrastructure, renewable energy, and space exploration saw record growth.

The UAE became a major economic force under Sheikh Khalifa's forward-looking strategies such as Principles of the 50 and UAE Vision 2021. Initiatives like UAE Strategy for Government Services (2021–2025), National Space Strategy 2030, and Net Zero 2050 Strategy further propelled growth.

Economic Diversification and Global Engagement

Since 2022, under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed's leadership, significant milestones have been achieved across economic, social, political, and development domains. Economic diversification has accelerated with growth in tourism, trade, financial services, industry, real estate, telecoms, and technology.

The Central Bank projects real GDP growth at 4.4 percent by 2025 due to rising foreign investment and robust non-oil sectors. In Q1 2025 alone, non-oil foreign trade reached AED835 billion with exports hitting AED177.3 billion.

A Commitment to Social Development

In January 2025, President Sheikh Mohamed declared it as "Year of Community," focusing on strengthening intergenerational ties. The government allocated AED27.9 billion—39 percent of that year's federal budget—to social development efforts aimed at enhancing citizen welfare.

Internationally renowned for peacebuilding efforts guided by values of tolerance and coexistence since its founding days; UAE remains committed globally towards stability & justice while providing AED368 billion in foreign aid benefiting over one billion people worldwide across humanitarian & development sectors.

With inputs from WAM