H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attended Sunday at the Zayed Military City a ceremony hosted by the Land Forces' unit to celebrate the 26th anniversary of its unification, UAE national news agency WAM reported.
In attendance were Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC), H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor and Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy National Security Adviser.
Also present were Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Under-Secretary of the Defense Ministry, Lt. General Hamad Mohamed Thani Al Romaithi, Chief of Staff of the UAE Armed Forces, senior officials, officers and NCOs.
Sheikh Mohamed said the UAE leadership was proud of the readiness, professionalism and efficiency of the armed forces.
He affirmed that the modernization plans for all units of the UAE armed forces will continue to develop their capabilities and to enable them to perform their national duty of defending the country and its achievements under the wise leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Upon Sheikh Mohamed’s arrival, the national anthem was played and the personnel forming the military column renewed their oath of allegiance.
Major General Saleh Mohamed Saleh Al Ameri, Commander of the Land Forces, delivered a speech in which he detailed the history of the unit which was officially established in 1989. He added that the oldest Land Forces unit in the UAE was created in 1951.
Al Ameri paid tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who unified the Armed Forces in 1976. He renewed allegiance to H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.
Al Ameri saluted Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan who led the armed forces' massive development throughout the past three decades and expressed appreciation for the role played by the General Headquarters of the UAE Armed Forces.
“The Land Forces unification day is also a day to remember our martyrs who sacrificed their lives for their country and to show gratitude to our former commanders who made sure that our flags always fly high,” he added.
During the celebration, video footages were shown about the achievements of the land forces and their contributions in different missions abroad, including their first mission as part of the Arab peacekeeping force in Lebanon in 1976 and their current one as part of the Arab Coalition to restore legitimacy in Yemen.
Sheikh Mohamed honored the families of the Land Forces’ martyrs and also the former commanders of the unit. He then inspected the latest equipment and weaponry and was briefed about their uses in different field operations.
