Abu dhabi: The UAE Government has launched the 'Emirati National Identity Strategy', a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Culture and the National Projects Office of the Presidential Court. This significant initiative was unveiled during the UAE Government Annual Meetings 2025 held in Abu Dhabi.
According to Emirates News Agency, the strategy was announced by Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, in a keynote session titled 'Legacy and Responsibility.' This initiative signals a new phase of unified government efforts to bolster the Emirati identity across various sectors. An interactive exhibition, 'Emirati National Identity: Legacy and Responsibility,' was also held to promote awareness of the Emirati identity's values and components, encouraging the adoption of these principles in both government and community activities.
The event witnessed the presence of prominent figures, including H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The strategy aims to solidify a deeply-rooted Emirati identity, reflecting the UAE leadership's vision and societal embrace as a path to stability and prosperity. It focuses on enhancing national belonging, reinforcing family and social cohesion, and promoting the UAE's identity globally through international cooperation.
The strategy's comprehensive vision includes fostering unity and harmony among UAE citizens and residents, nurturing a spirit of coexistence, and establishing a community bound by shared values and a collective sense of national belonging. The framework is based on three main pillars: defining the identity's core values, establishing a strategic framework for its integration, and developing a governance model and National Identity Index for sustained impact.
Developed in coordination with over 40 federal and local entities, the strategy involved workshops and brainstorming sessions to define the Emirati identity and its values, rooted in Islamic principles. The Emirati national identity is anchored on six core elements, such as Islamic values, the Arabic language, and the Emirati family, which serve as the foundation for instilling belonging and responsibility in younger generations.
The strategy outlines five core values-respect, ambition, belonging, cohesion, and generosity-that encapsulate the Emirati character. It also delineates seven dimensions to convey the national identity across society, including language, education, and media. The strategy includes 13 key initiatives, notably integrating the national identity into educational curricula and developing a Media Content Policy.
Initiatives like 'Nahj' and 'We Are the Children of Zayed' aim to embed the national identity in community programs. An index will measure national identity adoption, and a National Identity Committee will oversee governance, ensuring integrated efforts to fortify the Emirati identity at institutional and societal levels.
H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasized the strategy as a legacy and responsibility, reflecting the spirit of the Emirati people and their deep-rooted national belonging. She highlighted the strategy's role in creating an inspiring environment for future generations to cherish their culture and heritage, fostering a unified framework of respect, coexistence, and belonging.
Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi remarked that the strategy aligns with the leadership's vision of nurturing value-driven generations. It serves as a unifying framework, embedding identity as a social practice and ensuring the UAE remains a model of coexistence and pride.