Abu Dhabi: His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, attended a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Defence in the Al Sameeh area in Abu Dhabi to mark the 10th anniversary of the National and Reserve Service Law. The event witnessed the participation of several high-ranking officials, including His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE.
According to Emirates News Agency, the ceremony was also graced by the presence of other notable figures such as H.H. Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman; H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah; H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu’alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain; and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saq
r Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah. The event underscored the values of loyalty, patriotism, and sacrifice, which are pivotal in sustaining the UAE’s progress and stability.
The highlight of the event was ‘Waqfat Walaa’ (A Stand of Loyalty), the largest military parade in the history of the UAE Armed Forces, in which thousands of National Service and Reserve Force members participated. H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid expressed profound appreciation for the citizens’ commitment to national service, emphasizing its role in fostering loyalty, patriotism, and sacrifice-values inherited from the UAE’s Founding Fathers.
In his remarks, Sheikh Mohammed praised the UAE’s youth as a responsible generation, dedicated to upholding the legacy of the nation’s founders through their service and commitment to national values. He highlighted their crucial role in propelling growth, innovation, and enhancing the nation’s defensive capabilities, calling the occasion a reaffirmation of commitment to the Founding Fath
ers’ vision.
The ceremony also featured the handover of the flag of the Khalifa bin Zayed Airborne Brigade to Brigadier General Ahmed Ali Al Shehhi, marking an important milestone in advancing the UAE’s defence capabilities under Sheikh Mohammed’s witness. This initiative aligns with the leadership’s vision to boost the UAE Armed Forces’ preparedness in response to evolving defence challenges.
Commemorating the UAE’s 53rd Eid Al Etihad, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid awarded the UAE Military Medal to several officers and non-commissioned officers in recognition of their efforts during the foundational phase of the National and Reserve Service Law. Major General Pilot Sheikh Ahmed bin Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan received the First-Class UAE Military Medal, while other officers were honored with different classes of the medal.
The event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council; H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Ruler of Abu Dhabi; and ot
her prominent figures such as H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, among others.
