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Twelve months of steady progress

Emirates News Agency, WAM
ON 2nd December 2014, the United Arab Emirates marks its National Day, celebrating 43 years since the state was established in 1971. For citizens and expatriate residents of the seven emirates of the federation, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ra's al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm al-Qaiwain and Fujairah, it has been another year during which the country has continued to prosper, despite the turmoil that has continued to affect much of the Middle East region. The economic recovery witnessed over the last few years has continued its momentum, having a notable positive impact on business confidence.
Located in the south-east corner of the Arabian peninsula, with coastlines on both the Arabian Gulf and on the Gulf of Oman, the seven emirates, formerly known as the Trucial States', came together following the withdrawal of Britain after 150 years. Led by the UAE's founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the seven rulers decided to work together to
form a federation, to bring prosperity and development to their people. Aided by the vision of Sheikh Zayed, the UAE has since emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most stable countries in the region.
Sheikh Zayed himself died in 2004, after over thirty years as President. The process of growth, however, has continued under the leadership of his son and successor as President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, their fellow members of the UAE's Supreme Council of Rulers and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The UAE government's commitment to upholding all rights and freedoms for its citizens and other residents has led to the state becoming, in the words of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, "a paradise
for citizens and others. All live in peace in a tolerant community that is free from segregation and injustice."
The economic and social progress achieved by the United Arab Emirates since it was established, coupled with the tolerance that characterises its way of life, has meant that Government has traditionally enjoyed overwhelming support from all of the country's residents, citizens and expatriates alike That has continued to be displayed, with the UAE continuing to enjoy enviable stability, at a time when much of the region is in turmoil.
The guiding principles
that underlie the success of the state, laid down over forty years ago, remain as fundamental elements in the policies of the UAE Government.
One was that the resources derived from the exploitation of Abu Dhabi's oil and gas reserves should be shared across the country in the development of its infrastructure.
A second was that, as Sheikh Zayed said, "the country's real wealth is its people", and that particular effort should be made to ensure that the people should benefit from the best available access to education, health care and social services, to equip both men and women to play their full part in the country's growth.
A third principle was that it should be a country where a spirit of tolerance between those of different nationalities, communities and faiths should prevail, yet one where its own national culture and heritage should be both cherished and protected.
Although firmly committed to the Islamic faith of its citizens, the UAE is now home to over 40 churches and cathedrals as well as places of worship for other faiths. The Government and people of the UAE are determined to ensure that this fundamental element of the country's way of life should continue.
And the fourth principle, looking outside the country, was that the UAE should seek to promote dialogue, co-operation and conflict-resolution, not only within the Arab world and the broader Islamic community, but also within the wider international community.
All of these principles have proved to be of critical importance over the course ofthe last year.
The Government's continuing focus on promoting equality of opportunity for UAE citizens and on ensuring that opportunities for education and training are open to all has meant that the country's women are now, gradually, coming to play an increasingly important role in the workforce
Today, women account for nearly 70 percent of all university graduates in the country and fill around 60 percent of government
jobs, providing four Ministers in the Cabinet, the UAE Permanent Representative to the UN, seven members of the Federal National Council, including the First Deputy Speaker, 10 percent of overseas diplomats (including Ambassadors and Consuls-General), and even civil and Armed Forces pilots, including Major Maryam al-Mansouri, who attracted international attention this year because of her involvement in the multinational air campaign against the terrorist Da'esh group in Iraq.
One key achievement during the course of the past year has been in the country's progress as a good place in which to do business.
The UAE rose three places over last year, to 22nd, in the latest World Bank's Doing Business 2015 report, the highest ranking for any Arab country for the second year running, and ahead of a number of European and Asian economies, including Holland (27th), Japan (29th), Turkey (55th) and Italy (56th). The UAE was amongst the ten countries whose performance had improved the most over the year.
The UAE's performance in these and other rankings emphasise, as the Minister of Economy, Sultan Al Mansouri, has noted, that the UAE economy is the most closely integrated of all the Arab economies into the global economic system. This process continues to develop, through the signature of bilateral agreements to promote collaboration with other countries. During the year, the agreement of avoidance of double taxation and fiscal evasion with Poland was amended while discussions on a new double taxation agreement began with the British Channel Island of Jersey, an important international finance centre with close links with the Gulf. Other agreements signed included one on customs matters with the Maldives while the promotion of air transport links - a key component of plans to promote and diversify the UAE's international trade -were signed with Myanmar, Burundi, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.
Locally, efforts have continued to enhance the country’s business-friendly environment, both to attract inflows of foreign direct investment, FDI, and to facilitate trade, both of which will help to achieve balanced, sustainable development. These efforts have included reforms and updating of legislation and various procedures designed to facilitate investment.