The United Arab Emirates is part of a region that is steeped in history. It has witnessed the flourishing of many civilizations down the ages, as it is strategically located where the East meets the West.

Under British mandate, it became increasingly clear to the leaders of the region that the British were not doing enough in terms of development of the area and so these leaders took it upon themselves to begin to lay the foundations of a modern infrastructure.

When, in 1968, the British announced their intention to withdraw from the region 1971, the rulers and people of the area realized that as they would no longer be a British protectorate, they would be vulnerable and put in a dangerous situation. The solution, they determined, was to unite as one country and push together for further development.

On December 2, 1971, the rulers met to announce the establishment of the federation of the United Arab Emirates. The late sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was chosen by his fellow rulers to serve as president and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum as Vice President. The UAE was admitted as member of the Arab League on December 6, 1971, and on December 9, 1971, the UAE became a member of the United Nations and expressed full commitment to the UN Charter.

The UAE has continued along this road to progress. The work of creating an extraordinary nation was begun by Sheikh Zayed, who promoted progress on all fronts, including human development. Today, President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan continues the work of his illustrious father, with policies designed to benefit the people of the UAE as well as those of the entire region and the Arab world.