From Sands to Stars

Journey from the Sands to the Stars

Judi Ali

Secondary Student Head of UAE Culture and Values

The UAE is a nation which has carved its own path of success – in the mere span of 50 years, this young, ambitious nation has seen growth and development which is unprecedented in world history. In this exclusive article, Judi Ali, the Secondary Student Head of UAE Culture and Values, traces the impressive trajectory of laurels and achievements by the country we are lucky to call our home.

A nation with a rich history

The United Arab Emirates is a nation steeped in history. In fact, its history dates to the early Ubaid period and part of the Neolithic Age, when Muhammed Al Idrisi mapped the coast of the United Arab Emirates in the tenth century. He was later joined by the state jeweler of Venice, Gasparro Balby in 1580 when he documented the pristine and intricate pearling industry of the United Arab Emirates. Since then, the UAE has truly covered a journey from the sands to the stars - indeed even the sky is not the limit for the United Arab Emirates and its pursuit of progress.

Evidence of the rich history is clearly visible through its local people and the faultlessly preserved artifacts as well as their adherence to their pristine cultures and values passing them from one generation to the other. The United Arab Emirates is a nation that has preserved and lived by their untarnished Arab and Islamic culture and values that are passed down from their ancestors.

A nation which stood up to challenges

The United Arab Emirates was faced by countless impediments that restricted their trade and livelihood starting with the unanticipated catastrophe of the Japanese finding advanced ways to reincarnate the intricate pearls rather than plummeting and searching the deep seas for them. This complication contributed to the unfortunate economic crisis for the people of the United Arab Emirates. They faced this challenge with strong determination. Their perseverance was rewarded with the discovery of oil.

On the 2nd of December 1971 the great unification of the Emirates heralded an era of unstoppable growth and development which gradually transformed the expansive dunes to a bustling metropolis of skyscrapers, highways and a thriving, multicultural society. As the United Arab Emirates continues to prosper and its dreams manifest into a reality, we’re surrounded by a sense of continual progress that motivates the people of the United Arab Emirates towards something bigger, better, and bolder and this is highlighted through their continuous quest for development and growth. The United Arab Emirates has become a trailblazer for innovation and finding the consummate balance between developing modernized infrastructure and preserved culture and history.

AN EXEMPLAR FOR OTHER NATIONS

If the United Arab Emirates isn't an example of a victorious and indomitable nation, what is? The determination of its people is clearly evidenced by the fact that they have accomplished enterprises in 50 years that some nations couldn’t in thousands years. It is a nation of opportunities and endless possibilities. The triumph that this nation has demonstrated is beyond belief - it’s a nation that raised from the deep burrows of sands and showcased their potential in a span of mere of 50 years. Indeed, the United Arab Emirates is a country with a success story which is an exemplar for other nations. The Emirati people have built a strong and independent nation comprised of the 7 emirates in a successful journey that was curated 50 years ago by the founding father HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. While the UAE may be young for its years, the country and its people have accomplished so much in this short time span, turning the UAE into a model for progress on a global scale.