MAITHA AL KAABI AND BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
The UAE marks the Union Pledge Day today, celebrating the vision that laid the foundation for a unified nation and charted its path to becoming one of the world’s leading nations.
The Union Pledge Day commemorates the historic meeting held on this day in 1971, when the country’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his brothers, the Rulers, signed the declaration of the Union and the UAE Constitution while announcing the official name of the United Arab Emirates.
This historic meeting was a major step towards establishing a federation of emirates on December 2, 1971.
In 2024, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared July 18 as Union Pledge Day.
Speaking to Aletihad, Dr Sultan Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, said July 18, 1971 marked a crucial milestone in the history of the country. The pledge, he said, cemented a constitutional and institutional framework governing relations among the emirates and laying the foundations for the Union.
“The pledge has become a national commitment upheld by the Constitution and state institutions, forming the foundation upon which the UAE was established and continues to thrive, and remaining a key factor in its enduring success,” Dr Al Nuaimi said.
Unity, cooperation and dedicated service to the nation — the values behind the Union Pledge — continue to shape Emirati society today, he noted.
“The concept of the pledge has become deeply rooted in the collective consciousness of the Emirati people,” he said, describing it as a historic reflection of their participation in serving the nation, advancing its progress and strengthening its security and stability in line with the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership.
He noted that marking the occasion deepens young people’s understanding of the nation’s formative journey, strengthens their commitment to national values, and inspires them to safeguard the achievements of their country while carrying forward the legacy and vision of the Founding Fathers.
‘A Pledge that Comes from Within’
For Emirati citizen Mohammed Al Mahri, the spirit and meaning of the pledge embody the belief that “a person belongs to their nation from the cradle to the grave”.
This principle, he said, transforms loyalty into action, representing the fulfilment one’s duty towards the nation.
He also praised what he described as the country’s approach to human dignity, saying the UAE has welcomed people from all over the world.
According to Al Mahri, living in such a country naturally creates “a pledge that comes from within”.
Al Mahri said moments of crisis have revealed that spirit most clearly. “We saw it during Covid, and we saw it during the crises the region has passed through.
"Whether an Emirati born in the UAE, a resident who came to the UAE and built a life here, a resident born in the UAE, or even visitors, we saw actions from all of them that reflected a pledge springing from within them towards the country.”
Pledge across Generations
As the UAE continues to grow, Dr Al Nuaimi believes the pledge remains central to preserving national identity.
He said the continuity of the pledge across generations reinforces belonging to the state, loyalty to the leadership, commitment to the Union and ties to the country’s history, future, values and principles.
“It also fosters shared responsibility for preserving national achievements and sustaining their gains,” Dr Al Nuaimi added.
He noted that national identity provides a unifying framework that strengthens social cohesion, supports stability and enriches the national experience through creativity and innovation.
“This, in turn, enhances the UAE’s standing both domestically and internationally, and affirms the national project established by the Founding Fathers, whose forward-looking vision transformed challenges into opportunities and positioned the UAE among the world’s leading nations as an oasis of security, safety, stability and prosperity.”