Dear sons and daughters of my motherland, praise be to Allah, who gave us guidance, wisdom and prudence and blessed us with the ability to work in the best interests of our people and for the glory of our nation.

Praise be to Allah, who gave us the union and enabled us to develop our young country, ensuring prosperity for the sons and daughters of our motherland.

As we celebrate the 36th National Day, we remember the founding fathers with faces full of satisfaction and optimism, their eyes shining with happiness. Their creation grows stronger and more glorious. The people they took care of grow ever more knowledgeable and self-confident. The union they set up continues to develop.

Thirty-six years - how brief a time! In historical terms, it is a short span of time that could easily pass - in many societies and nations - without leaving footprints or memories to cherish. But in the history of the United Arab Emirates, these years saw huge achievements, memorable events and successes.

These were years of creating, giving, achieving and looking forward. They were also years of tireless work.

These were the years when Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid began a new era. They worked tirelessly to improve the country. They gave the pillars a solid foundation and continued to build on them day and night. They paved the way for the nation to shift from humble growth to its current status as an example for modern times.

The progress that the UAE made in just 36 years would have taken other countries centuries.

Dear sons and daughters of my motherland, Almighty God blessed this nation with its leaders and with citizens who love their leaders. The relationship between the leaders and the people of the UAE is one of the secrets behind the nation's success and it permits us to rank as highly worldwide as we currently do. It has allowed the leaders to manage internal and external affairs, to promote sustainable development and to lead the UAE into the Information Age.

Dear sons and daughters of my motherland, we are proud of our past and our present and we face the future with unflagging determination.

We have succeeded because we have always believed that tomorrow is a new day, that yesterday's achievements are in the past and that history will record what we achieve in the future, not what we have achieved in the past.

Unlike others, we are not content to settle for what was accomplished in the past, because life doesn't stop and it doesn't care about those who stop because they are content with what they have achieved.

Every new day brings with it new tasks, new problems and new challenges. It brings new inventions and innovations in science and knowledge.

Those who neglect the new will remain at the back of the line; those who wait for luck to make things happen will be disappointed; those who let time manage their affairs will discover that time is a friend to those who work and take initiatives, but an enemy to those who depend on others and grow lazy.

We will press on, entrusting ourselves to the Almighty and working according to the federal strategy of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, may Allah protect him and bless him with success.

Dear sons and daughters of my motherland, last year the federal government entered the era of strategic planning, and the best international practices are part of our ministries' work, projects and programmes.

Our plans for reform and development are underway with steady, confident steps being taken in all sectors, especially education, healthcare and government administration. The government is tackling demographic and labour issues and advancing cooperation in federal and local affairs and promoting economic coordination among the emirates of the federation.

We have great confidence in the future, and we are very optimistic. We are very realistic, despite our big dreams, and we work hard to be the best, relying on God and our citizens. We are determined to equip every citizen with science, knowledge, training, leadership skills and all that is necessary for a happy life.

Another year of the union will bring more work... more achievement... more Emiratis skilled in production and services... more hope and optimism.

Allah says, "Work, so Allah will see your work and (so will) His Prophet and the believers."