Today's Edition
AMEINAH ALZEYOUDI (ABU DHABI)
Witnessing the UAE rise to where it is now is a source of pride and a badge of honour for expats who have called the country home for decades.
Syrian resident Mohammed Sakher has lived in the UAE for 30 years and counting, and he vividly recalls the moment he first landed in the Emirates. Back then, he said, much of the country was still developing.
Three decades later, towering skyscrapers have emerged and some of the most advanced technologies are transforming daily life. Yet, Sakher observed: “The UAE has never lost its welcoming spirit, despite being one of the most developed nations in the world today.”
When asked what keeps him in the country, he immediately cites safety, followed by financial opportunities and the chance to give his children a better future.
“This is where my family grew up. Our memories are all here,” he told Aletihad.
After 20 years in the UAE with his family, another longtime resident Fahad Alali says he has always felt valued and at home in the country.
“If you are willing to work hard, there are opportunities to succeed.” With the UAE’s exceptional healthcare, education, and infrastructure, he said he has every reason to stay in the country.
“It’s not just about living, it’s about building a future,” said Alali, a Syrian expat.
Umm Khaled, an Egyptian national who has spent 36 years in the UAE, sees the nation as a symbol of community and stability. Having raised her children here, she said she could attest to the sense of safety, harmony, and tolerance that characterise everyday life in the country.
“The UAE has always been a place where people from different nationalities can live together in harmony. It provided my kids with opportunities I could only imagine,” she said.
