UAEU Urges Young People to Follow the Country’s Leaders in performing their Duties to the UAE on the Occasion of the 43rd National Day

The Student Activities Section in the Student Affairs and Enrollment Department at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) held a variety of events on the 18^th of November to celebrate the 43^rd National Day. The Basmat Najah Club, in cooperation with Watani Al Emarat Foundation, provided a variety of activities and a panel discussion on the topics of national service and serving the country. These activities took place in the presence of His Excellency Professor Ghaleb Ali Alhadrami, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment; His Excellency Brigadier Mohammed Abdulla Al Mulla (from the National and Reserve Service Authority), and His Excellency Dherar Belhoul, Director-General of the Watani Program.

Brigadier Mohammed Al Mulla spoke about national service as a duty and also a benefit to the recruit and his country at one and the same time. He stressed that, “the purpose of national service was not the militarization of society, rather, it was forming people who could contribute to the achievements of the UAE.” He pointed out that the present recruits will be involved in the National Day celebrations on December 2^nd and that the whole of the country can be proud of them.

His Excellency Dherar Belhoul introduced a discussion on how citizens can best serve the country. He called on the audience to think for 30 seconds about the things they did to serve the UAE and to imagine that His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, was there with them and to consider what they would tell him. The participants aspired to greater loyalty, harder work, greater dedication and hoped for a successful country.

The discussion was chaired by Abdullah Ismail, a media expert and it included three main themes: the role of citizens; how to serve your country, and the duty of young people towards the UAE. Adeeb Al Balochi lead the participants in taking the oath of allegiance, which was repeated by the audience. Also in attendance were Nura Al Baluchi and the winners of a photography and design competition. The poets Ahmad Al Manaei and Muthakkar Al Harthy were also honored.