From the Editor
“With his enduring wisdom and generosity, my brother Khalifa bin Zayed was the heart of our family and the guardian of our nation. He was loved greatly and will be deeply missed, but his remarkable legacy will live on forever. May God grant him eternal peace.”
HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan UAE President, Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces
W elcome to the summer edition of Shawati’ , we are now more than halfway through 2022, a year that has undoubtedly been witness to many challenging and tumultuous events occurring globally. Without a doubt, many of these crucial issues are impacting our lives. In response to this, there has been a growing sense of malaise and feeling of powerlessness in people, which has been further perpetuated by certain news and social media outlets. Despite these numerous global crises, we must be mindful to not resign ourselves to being apathetic and disengaged , we must strive to remain hopeful and positive as we move toward the future. Now, more than ever, we have to take stock and look inward; we need to reflect on what is truly important in life. To a certain degree we need to aspire to embody the ethos of Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Now is the ideal moment to make a positive change, if one is necessary, only then can we move forward in a more meaningful and purposeful way. Only then can we influence and connect with those around us in a positive and impactful manner. At home in the UAE, we are still mourning the passing of our beloved second President, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, [may God rest his soul]. Words cannot describe the tremendous sadness we felt at hearing this announcement. During his nearly two decades serving as Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE he oversaw many pivotal moments of historic progress in the Emirates, he leaves behind a great legacy of accomplishments that extend well beyond the borders of the UAE. Sheikh Khalifa was a much-loved leader, who inherited a great wealth of wisdom and generosity from his father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, [may God rest his soul]. Following in his father’s footsteps he lived
his life in service and dedication to the happiness and well-being of the UAE and those who inhabit its land. He worked tirelessly for the betterment of the UAE and his people, and for that we are eternally grateful. Under Sheikh Khalifa’s leadership, the UAE became more prosperous, tolerant and open to the world. His great legacy lives on in the appointment of his brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan as the newly elected President, [may God protect him]. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s Presidency marks a new era in the UAE’s 50 plus year history, one that will be as significant as the first two. His visionary leadership, wise foresight and humanitarian ethos were inherited from his father, he is widely admired and loved by the people of the UAE and beyond. His Highness once said, “Those who take the lead, take it by doing three things. First, science to be able to maneuver; second, knowledge to be able to heavily invest in education; and third, a very wise leadership with a clear vision and a roadmap to the right direction.” These words resonate now more than ever, as they offer a glimpse into the future. If His Highness’s 18 years as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi is any indication of what’s lies ahead, then we can feel confident and optimistic that the UAE will continue to prosper and further advance under his wise leadership. As we turn the page on our 59 th issue, we would like to thank you, our dear readers, at home and abroad, for your continued support, loyalty and patronage. I wish you and your loved ones a blessed Eid Al Adha in advance. Join us again in September as we kick-off the beginning of another exciting season of events in Abu Dhabi. Until then, I wish you all a healthy, peaceful, safe and joyous summer. Happy reading! Sabah Al Abbasi
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