It gives me great pleasure on this occasion to extend, in my name and in the name of the Securities and Commodities Authority, my heartfelt congratulations to the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai; their brothers Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates; the UAE people; and everyone living on this land.
Today, as we celebrate the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of the United Arab Emirates, we recall and take pride in the tremendous achievements and national work that have been made over the past decades to raise this nation and keep its flag flying high. We are building on the solid foundations of the founding fathers led by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and striving to put the UAE at its deserved place among the world’s most advanced nations.
December 2, 1971, will always have a special place in the hearts of the UAE people and will always be an occasion that evokes a deep sense of pride and joy. This day saw the announcement of the union and the birth of our beloved nation. Ever since, the country has been making continuous achievements and accomplishments through its federation experience, setting broad development goals that reflect a wise strategy and striving to create a national environment that keeps pace with academic and technological developments by pursuing integrated local and federal policies.
The wise vision set out by the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai; and their brothers Their Highnesses Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates helped develop a future outlook for the UAE and predict a bright future where we march forward with confidence and live by our values. The UAE is now ranking high on competitiveness indexes, exploring space, and racing against time to be placed among the best countries in the world and achieve the status it deserves, thanks to its advanced economy, best use of resources, and sophisticated infrastructure.
The SCA continues its tireless efforts to bring to life the vision of our wise leadership, to rank high on global competitiveness indexes, and to upgrade the UAE markets to advanced market status. The SCA developed a forward-looking perspective on the future of the local securities sector and worked to make it more dynamic and better able to keep pace with business developments, thereby realizing its vision and mission to protect the rights of investors and support the investment climate.
The SCA developed regulations and legislation to accommodate the new emerging technologies and put forward innovative financial solutions that help keep pace with technological advancements. It used financial technology and harnessed emerging technology, artificial intelligence, and digital technologies in its recent launch of projects and initiatives, including the development of securitization regulations, the setting of standards and requirements related to green bonds and sukuk, encouraging environmentally friendly investment opportunities, promoting the UAE’s vision on sustainability and environmental conservation, and developing a regulatory framework dealing with sustainability-focused investment fund, all the while concentrating on taking part in building a green economy that will effectively contribute to creating a sustainable future.
I would like to conclude by reiterating that the National Day is an opportunity to recharge energies, find fresh determination, and renew our pledge to ourselves, our nation, and our wise leadership to maintain our development achievements that have become a symbol and a model for development in the region and a source of future hope. We pray to Allah to bestow upon our beloved land peace and prosperity and to have mercy upon the founding fathers who laid the foundations of this nation.