Sheikh Khalifa announces 2021 as Year of the 50th

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, has declared 2021 as the ‘Year of the 50th’, in the country. The year 2021 marks the golden jubilee of the UAE.

The ‘Year of the 50th’ officially starts on April 6, 2021 and will last until March 31, 2022, official news agency WAM reported.

The declaration is combined with the announcement of year-long initiatives, activities, and celebrations that will be governed by the UAE Golden Jubilee Committee, formed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in December 2019.

من هنا، نحتفي معاً بـ50 عاماً من تحقيق الطموحات.
50 عاماً من بناء الآمال.
50 عاماً، من بناء وطن للجميع.
نحن هنا لنحتفل بالحياة. #عام_الخمسين

50 years of realised dreams. 50 years of hope. 50 years of togetherness. 50 years of us. Are you ready to move forward? #UAE50 pic.twitter.com/og7WW635Us

— The Year of the 50th (@UAEYearOf) March 16, 2021

The activities marking the Year of the 50th will include the following:

• Launching the Year 50 with a festive spirit that engages all those who consider the UAE their homeland.
• Calling on all UAE nationals to contemplate the values and achievements of the past in acknowledgement of the UAE founding fathers.
• Inspiring youth to have their vision about the ambitions of the next 50 years, while supporting them to make quality national achievements in furtherance of The March of Development, Progress and Prosperity.

Today, as we launch the @UAEYearOf the 50th, we can proudly look back
on our achievements as we embark on a new journey with determination
and enthusiasm. Everyone in the UAE has the chance to reach their full
potential, and together we will continue to shape new frontiers. pic.twitter.com/eGcHlcwCZC

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) March 16, 2021

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed said: “‘Year of the 50th’ represents a historic defining moment in our journey that started immediately after the declaration of the UAE’s union in 1971. It’s an acknowledgement of the resolute will and strong determination our Founding Fathers had while building up their nation. It also comes in recognition of the sincere efforts made by our citizens for our nation to be what we are seeing today as one of the best growing and fastest developing countries in the world.”

Sheikh Khalifa also valued the efforts made by foreign nationals who have shared a similar journey with Emirati citizens to build the nation. ” ‘Year of the 50th’ is an opportunity to contemplate the achievements made over 50 years at a time we are gearing up for the next journey.”

The celebration includes a series of initiatives to behold the UAE’s history, values and achievements. “We are living in a rapidly changing world. Amid this change, there are opportunities up for grabs to drive innovation and creativity. Therefore, we’ll have to double efforts to generate novel ideas, and quality initiatives to preserve our heritage and values and protect the cultural diversity of our society. As such, these initiatives should contribute to creating a better tomorrow with a brighter future for our nation,” noted Sheikh Khalifa.

عام الخمسين .. عام احتفاء بخمسين عاماً شهدت أسرع مسيرة بناء في تاريخ الدول .. وأفضل مسيرة تنمية شهدتها المنطقة .. وأنبل رحلة لبناء الإنسان .. وهو أيضاً عام استعداد لخمسين قادمة .. خمسين عامرة بالخير .. عميقة في التأثير .. نموذجية في بناء أمل للمنطقة والعالم pic.twitter.com/k3nqqzE4co

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) March 16, 2021

The committee is also working on an agenda built on four strategic pillars that cover several development initiatives aimed at driving changes through socio-economic and developmental policies.