A country built around the pillars of innovation and diversity

The UAE has placed a high premium on sustainability in this development mix

  

As the UAE celebrates 45 years, we are proud to be a part of the country’s journey that has gained universal admiration for its unique ability to emerge as a benchmark in sustainability, innovation and diversity.

Within a remarkably short span of time, the UAE has demonstrated a focused and strategic approach towards development that has resulted in its success as a leader in infrastructure, innovation and sustainability.

With its people’s interests as a core priority, the Rulers have ensured that the country is pioneering in the fields of construction, education and entrepreneurship.

From the founding fathers to the current leadership, the path charted by our Rulers for the country’s citizens and residents, is uniquely visionary and a model that is now being emulated around the world.

The Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group was founded in 1958, a little over a decade before the formation of the UAE, and is humbled to have been offered innumerable opportunities to shape history — to watch a nation’s birth, to contribute to its remarkable development and its ascendancies as a leading voice in international business and trade.

The UAE Government’s policies to ensure a sustainable development model that preserves the environment and achieves a balance between economic and social progress is focused on improving the quality of life for our society.

The UAE Vision 2021 National Agenda is committed to providing the best infrastructure in the country and, through its Sustainable Development Goals, the country is addressing sustainability on a horizontal scale such as improving the quality of air, preserving water resources, increasing the contribution of clean energy and implementing green-growth plans, all of which will have a positive impact on our lifestyles.

Sustainability as a nation has been possible through the visionary policies of inclusiveness and openness to other cultures and nationalities.

People from all over the world express wonder at the tolerance and peaceful coexistence of the UAE’s diverse population — citizens and expatriates — particularly as the rest of the world grows increasingly divided.

In the marketplace, sustainability must begin with the ethical behaviour in the sector in which a business operates. We have been extraordinarily fortunate to have had the UAE as our launch pad.

There are few markets in the world that can be counted on for their business-friendly policies — that have adapted to international business — yet are also responsible towards the workforce and society.

Managing energy efficiently, reducing waste and optimising our water resources, represents a significant part of our vision.

From encouraging recycling and efficient energy consumption to implementing our own sustainability activities within Al Naboodah Group Enterprises, we also work with governmental agencies on such topics as road safety and support community-led activities in their conservation efforts.

Our Government has devised a national strategy for innovation that will revolutionise — renewable energy, safe transportation, water technology, health care, education and space programmes.

As a country, we have already led the way in innovation through various steps including the implementation of electronic and smart transformation across our institutions, agencies and departments, reinforcing their commitment to offering e-services that are accessible and inclusive to everyone.

It is no surprise that we are ranked eighth globally and first regionally in the United Nations 2016 e-Smart Services Index.

On this occasion of the UAE’s 45th anniversary, we extend our best wishes to our Rulers, leaders, countrymen, and all the expatriates that have come together to make the country the proud nation that it is today.

The writer is Chairman of Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Holding.