UAE leaders gathered to mark the 48th Armed Forces Unity Day.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, described it as an important moment of great pride for the UAE people.
"The decision to unify the armed forces on May 6, 1976 was a pivotal moment in the history of the UAE," he said.
"On that day, our honored Father of the Nation, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, with the unwavering support of the founding fathers, laid the cornerstone of our unification and embarked on a journey to build a strong armed force that will be an impregnable shield for our nation, capable of confronting any threat to our sovereignty, security and stability. "
"Over the past 48 years since the decision to unify, our Armed Forces have embarked on a steady path of excellence, achieving impressive milestones in terms of organization, training, weaponry, efficiency and operational capabilities."
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister and Director General of the President's Office, stressed that the decision to unify the armed forces is a strategic choice made at a critical stage in the country's history.
He said that the armed forces have made outstanding contributions over the decades and will continue to enhance security, stability and peace.
The military unification came five years after the UAE's creation, when on December 2, 1971, six of the seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah) announced their merger. The seventh emirate, Ras al-Khaimah, joined on February 10, 1972.
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