Interviews with His Highness - 11 February, 2013
Mohammed bin Rashid’s discussion with Emiratis and Arab citizens at Government Summit
UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has held a press conference on the sideline of the 2013 Government Summit. Sheikh Mohammed answered over 40 questions received from citizens, residents and visitors.
Following is the complete press conference:
Rashed Al Shamsi: “Why do you always insist on achieving first place even though it's an impossible goal?”
Sheikh Mohammed: I am not here to give a lecture but rather to answer your questions. It both pleases and honors me to accept the invitation to be here today. Therefore, we must be at ease so we can address all the questions. First, please execuse me as I can not standstill for long period. Even at school I couldn’t sit still during a whole class. I always have to stand up and move around.
Back to the question, while it's a difficult, and maybe an impossible, goal sometimes, but, dear brothers and sisters, the question said: “impossible goal”. I surely am proud of all of you and the positions you have achieved. I don’t want you to aspire for anything less than first place because there is number one and no one knows who came second. You may be the last or settle for the middle, but the first has always been the most desirable for everybody. If one is convinced that he cannot be the ‘first’, he may as well have sentenced himself to failure. Hence, we must aim to be first in everything. It is not only I who believe in this but so did Zayed and Rashid. They always sought to be the first, and now Khalifa follows that path as well.
Why shouldn’t we be in the first place? For instance, Abu Dhabi is striving to be number one through targeting culture and through leading initiatives in power and renewable energy. I am not the only one with this goal in his mind. it is everybody’s goal. I want you all to strive to achieve this goal because there's no better alternative. We shouldn’t doubt our abilities. We will always face challenges in life, but the word 'impossible' does not exist nor belong here in the UAE. With God’s will...I am honored to request you to strive to be the first and best in everything.
I'd like to ask you now, particularly you Mosabah Rashid, who is the second man to reach the top of Mount Everest in the Himalayas? No one knows him. Who is the second man who landed on the moon? No one knows him. So let's insist on being number one.
Dhoha El Shimeri from Kuwait: Hello, I am Dhoha El Shimeri from Kuwait I'm a student and an employee. My question is: Why are you eager to achieve progress in a very short period of time?”
Sheikh Mohammed: Dear Dhoha, first of all, I would like to welcome you to the UAE. We welcome all our brothers and sisters from Kuwait. We are encouraging family tourism and we are building a base for that. Responsible officials have been urged to channel all efforts in enhancing family tourism and to introduce new initiatives to facilitate an exceptional experience for tourists. Should you have any ideas or suggestions, you can send them electronically or through a letter and we'll do our best to respond properly. The Emirati people love all Arabs and specially our GCC neighbors and welcome all visitors.
Your question is: Why now? I say why not? We have to anticipate our future. If we postpone till tomorrow, today will be upon us. We always hear the excuse:
“I’ll do it tomorrow”. One shouldn't postpone matters till tomorrow and make excuses. If we were able to do it today to strengthen our economy today, then it should be done today. As we all know, an economically strong nation is politically strong. On the other hand, an economically weak nation lacks strength on the political level. What you see before you is the result of the tremendous effort achieved through teamwork.
It’s not my work alone, but rather the work of teams from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah and from the President to the smallest employee.
During the holy month of Ramadan, I usually invite journalists and media professionals to discuss issues in an informal setting and friendly environment. A couple of years ago, a journalist approached me with a question. Despite my attempts to convince her that it was not the most suitable time, she insisted that it’s only one question. She asked me: How much of your vision have you achieved so far, in percentage? I am always straightforward, so I gave it some thought and told her: I'm very ambitious so are my people and my president. So my answer to her was: 10 percent. Two years later, in the same time and place, she came to me again, but this time was after the inauguration of Burj Khalifa, the city around it, the hotels, shopping centers and the launch of the Dubai Metro and Meydan. That journalist asked me “And now, after completing these mega projects, how much of your vision have you achieved?” I looked at her and thought about it carefully and answered: 7%. She was shocked and protested because two years back I answered and after all these projects how did the percentage decline? I said yes, because when one has a vision, and he is eager to achieve it, one sees, practices and learns from his mistakes. Therefore, his vision expands and becomes broader over time and this is why, today, I have seen another way that is different to the path I took two years ago.
Hanadi Al Shamsi: “Your Highness, how do you see the government of the future?”
Sheikh Mohammed: That’s a good question. I want the government of the future to be as welcoming as a five stars hotel and to work 24/7 like an airline. I’d like all services to be accessible in one center. I want the government of the future to be close to the people and to facilitate things for them. Perhaps, or rather certainly, it should enable all citizens to process their governmental transactions in one place. But our government and I are more ambitious, I want every citizen to be able to process all his governmental transactions on his smartphone. This would serve our people and country. And hopefully the future government will be able to do so.
Sara El Hosani: Father Mohammed, How did you build Burj Khalifa? It is very beautiful!
Sheikh Mohammed: There’s a story behind Burj Khalifa. When the project was proposed, the highest building on the site didn't exceed 80 floors. There were few smaller buildings around, of 3 or 4 or 5 floors. The project included gardens, but didn't live up to the desired caliber. So, I rejected the proposal since it did not fulfill my requirements. I left the meeting without explaining myself. They returned after a month after adding few modifications on the buildings and gardens. I sat with them, and told them firmly: “We want, on this location, the tallest building man has ever built. We also want gardens, fountains, hotels residential buildings and excellent shopping areas”. That area is now among the most beautiful places in Dubai where you can stroll for 7 km. It’s a stunning area with all its restaurants and shops. It's just a wonderful place. Burj Khalifa is not just a tower but a new city in the heart of a city. This is the story behind it. When this tower was completed and became the tallest skyscraper in the world, the name had to be associated with a great man. So we called it Burj Khalifa.
Jamal Hassan: Your Highness, despite the international and regional challenges, we continue to hear about the launch of new mega projects, new cities and huge plans. Don't you see any risks in that?
Sheikh Mohammed: Dear brothers, there are no projects without risks. Even banks constantly face risks. Thus, there is a risk factor in every project, and we all know that. Should that stop us from moving forward? Life is all about challenges. Risk is present in every step we take and in each project we initiate.
My dear brother Jamal, should we stop because of risks? If so, then how will we build our economy and how will we achieve our citizens’ happiness? It is important that we move forward Brother Jamal. If risks are a concern, then don’t drive to work otherwise you are risking an accident. Don’t ride a plane to Europe, there’s a risk it may crash. So should we stop just because there are risks? Not ever.
Should challenges deter us? Never. Challenges don't stop us. Imagine a life without challenges and risks. We will be lazy and idle. So, my brother Jamal, have faith in God, carry on and always be positive because risks and challenges are always present but when there is a will there is always a way.
Rashid Abdel Karim: Your Highness; is leadership hereditary or it can be acquired?
Sheikh Mohammed:Good question dear Rashid. You have already moved a step forward towards leadership. Does anyone know why? Because he’s asking what are the characteristics that make a leader.
Leadership is all about thought and resourcefulness. Many leaders may have inherited this characteristic from their fathers or predecessors. They may have been born leaders by nature, but leadership needs to be refined. It also needs education, practice and experience. This is how you become a leader. Not everyone born on a Friday was blessed and destined to be a leader. And not everyone who graduated from West Point Military Academy in America or Sandhurst has become a leader.
I have encountered different kind of leasers, and we graduated together. Some moved forward and developed further while others stopped where they are. Some leaders might be capable of leading a small group but do not enjoy qualities of public figures. So, even if leadership is hereditary, it still requires learning, refining and experience so this dear Rashid, I liked your question; it’s definitely is a step forward towards leadership. So lead your team forward and teach them about leadership.
Salem Al Hadeed: Your Highness, during your reception of the UAE national team, after they won the Gulf Cup, you used the words ‘positive energy’ and it caught my attention. My question is, what do you mean by that? What is the difference between positive and negative energy? Furthermore, I would like to know what does this hand signal means, what is the secret behind it?
Sheikh Mohammed: Positive and negative energy are two very different things. You can either have positive energy and become successful, or you can be negative and face defeat. Before I answer your question, I would like to say that throughout my life and my experience as a leader I have met friends and brothers with different ranks and positions, but I’ll first speak of the person who was constantly negative. If I ask him about something he would reply: ''impossible'' if I ask why he would say ''it won't work'' if I Say ''Let's do this'' he would say ''we can't'' ''Hey, look, the sun is up!'' he would reply ''I can't see it'' then if I’d say ''OK go outside and have a look!'' he would reply ''no, I don't want to'' I say ''open the curtains so we can see it'' yet again he refuses. I met many such individuals, they were dear to me, but I had to substitute them with others who are more positive. Because they were constantly negative and this energy impacted them significantly. Seeming as we all know, and all of you as leaders know, that life is full of challenges. How can we overcome them? With positive energy. If one wakes up in the morning full of positive energy greeting those around him with joy and happiness and knowing that he can confront challenges, he will see life more beautifully and people will like him more because he is positive. Another comes along stooped and hidden you can tell immediately he is negative. So, all challenges can be overcomed with positive energy. During my 41 years in public service I faced along with my brothers many challenges, but we conquered every challenge. But if you are optimistic, determined and persistent you will solve every problem linked to the challenge. So if you do possess this determinationalong with the positive energy then you are doing very well. I advise you dear brothers as you represent the future of this country to surround yourselves with positive energy in everything you do. I want you to be the best as you are our future leaders.
As for the hand signal, I think my brother Musabah Rashid may be able to answer this question. I used this signal many times after we won the European championship and this year in the World Cup and in the Marathon. I am very honoured by that. Many brothers use this symbol when they win and that makes me wonder. This signal is Western and it symbolizes “V” for victory, but why do we need to copy others? Why? As Arabs, we have a rich history then why do we follow others? Why can’t we be innovators and aim high? Hence, I chose this signal… Do you want to answer that Musabah? Does anyone know what it symbolizes? No one knows? That’s good because I invented it Brothers and sisters, this signal refers to three things. I will let you know what the first two are and I will leave you to guess the third. It's Victory and Triumph both words have the same letter count. What does the third one mean? Who knows it? Yes Mona? Sheikha Lubna? If I tell you the third, I worry it will become a habit among you If you took it as a habit it will become a dangerous gesture. The third meaning is “I Love You”.
Mona Al Suwaidi: I am an employee in your government which employs over 80 thousand, what are your expectations from us as government employees?
Sheikh Mohammed: Government employees embody the energetic core. You are the engine that drives all our achievements. What we would like from you is to continue being exceptional and innovative. You are certainly on the right path, and this question comes parallel with my thoughts. Thus, you should be determined and continue on this exceptional and innovative path. You need always to be aware and keen in your work which serves your country. I always advise and encourage further training and education and that's what I wish to see from you.
Ali Ibrahim Al Ali: What are the difficulties or challenges which you encountered? And how did you overcome them?
Sheikh Mohammed: As I said, our life was full of challenges. How did I overcome them? By persistence; I managed to overcome challenges, not only myself but our fathers and brothers, by possessing an abundance of positive energy. Therefore, we overcame these challenges. There's another challenge, a specific one which is: how did we manage to get this far? What is the most difficult thing I face when I work with teams? It's to express what is required and transfer the idea you’re your thoughts and the teamwork. Frankly, the most difficult thing is to teach workteams to execute what you need and to teach them to trust you. Honestly, the most difficult thing when you start is to teach your team to have faith in your capabilities and to illustrate examples of success after they have worked with you several times. Eventually, they start to trust you and know that you are capable of attaining goals. Hence they will follow you and support you.
Though I always maintain an ongoing dialogue and organize numerous conferences, it is only when they witness success they will start to follow your steps. Thus, overcoming challenges and difficulties is attained through strong positive energy.
Mohammed Saeed Al Suweidi: I’m in charge of one of the governmental work teams. My question is about motivation among employees and work teams. How can we motivate the employees to achieve better performance?
Sheikh Mohammed: You are all leaders and coaches. So, you should know that the best way to motivate employees is to delegate authority. How can we ask someone to do something without empowering him to achieve it? He won't be able to accomplish the assignment or provide the service. You must give him power, support and trust him. Motivation is also accomplished through encouraging employees or rewarding the winners in order to create competition. Competition will occur if you rewarded the winners and supported them and that will make them more passionate and they’ll be keen to perform better. That’s how competition is triggered. In my opinion that's what creates motivation. Therefore, we should reward exceptional employees and others will follow.
Arab citizen: I am an old and weak woman. How can I go to court? The court requires papers every now and then, but I cannot provide them. I am not well, and not able to walk; How can old people process their official papers?
Sheikh Mohammed:Where's the microphone? Maryam, this concerns social affairs you should be able to provide an answer. As a ministry, this is your responsibility and your services ought to reach all the citizens especially the elderly. Don’t wait for them to come to you, or be subjected to going to court.
Maryam Al Roomi: Thank you, Your Highness, for allowing me to answer this question. Three years ago, Your Highness instructed me personally that elderly and disabled people who benefited from monthly social allowances should be exempted from the re-assessment that takes place every 6 months. Therefore, I issued a ministerial resolution to exempt them from this procedure, and we instructed all the social affairs’ offices to continue providing the best services and aid for the elderly and disabled.
Marwa Issam: How are you so successful in treating everyone equally? What is the source of love you carry for all these people? When I first arrived to the UAE, I was stunned because I didn't see anyone criticizing the country or its authority or system. I was further surprised that no one spoke of you negatively!!!
Sheikh Mohammed: Thank you dear Marwa; this is a statement that I truly cherish. We welcome you to the UAE, Marwa. I wish only happiness, security and prosperity to the great Egyptian nation. Let’s not forget that the Egyptian community helped building the UAE. We thank them and appreciate their efforts. We send our regards to our brothers and sisters in Egypt. Egypt is the heart of the Arab nation. we pray for its safety.
Hassan Abdullah: How does Mohammed Bin Rashid manage to organize his time despite his heavy responsibilities?
Sheikh Mohammed: My answer is mostly directed to those who have just started their journey since all the leaders present before me already have time management skills. An individual’s day consists of 24 hours; let me give you a simple example. We can assign a task with a deadline of three hours to a work team. If this team planned and managed its time well, it may require a mere half hour or 15 minutes even. It is possible through appropriate time management. For me, time resembles life itself. You cannot store or contain it. Time passes and flows by like a river; you cannot step in the same water twice, it’s constantly running. You cannot store life, it moves on… So, why don’t we utilize our time wisely in accomplishing things efficiently and to fulfill our duties towards our country and nation? Proper time management is achievable. Time management accomplishes a balance in life hence you can accommodate family, work, hobbies and trips. An organized individual can indeed make time for everything. It is very crucial though to eliminate the dark negative clouds shrouding mind and pave the way for optimism and positivity.
Abdel Fattah Kaabour: Have you achieved your vision and the desired progress and development? Or is there something that is yet to be achieved? In other words, what are your future prospects?
Sheikh Mohammed: Reiterating my previous reply to the journalist’s question on this matter by saying we achieved 7% or 10%. Now let’s assume that we did achieve everything, what are we to do then?! Should we cross our arms and do nothing? Achieving goals is an inspiration and a duty. It is a lifetime mission. There is no finish line when it comes to progress, innovation and excellence. There's no limit, sky is the limit. What we have achieved so far can’t measure to a drop in the ocean. We aspire to be among top nations and governments and our journey has just begun. If we assume we have achieved all our goals, then why should we work? Let’s stop and relax. In fact, resting will lead to exhaustion. One only reaches his goal after hard work and others will follow to assume their positions, and so on...Life will go on and the finish line is yet to be reached.
Hussein Al-Ali: Sheikh Mohammed:, we are certain that you channel significant efforts to improve health services, what is the government’s latest progresson regarding the hospital accreditation?
Sheikh Mohammed: Hand the microphone to the Minister of Health let them learn some lessons.
Minister of Health: Thank you for this opportunity Your Highness. Before this meeting I was with Sheikh Mohammed Al Sabah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, I was going through an email which contained reports about several issues. He wondered what I was doing. I told him, I am preparing myself. He asked me why, since my session is scheduled for tomorrow. I said I expect Sheikh Mohammed: will ask me a question anytime and anywhere.
Concerning the accreditation; The Ministry of Health initiated work on this project in late 2011. Over 150 of our employee were trained in two hospitals. We will submit the report on accreditation next week. Hopefully by the end of the year, the hospitals will be accredited.
Abdo: Your Highness, I wonder what's the secret behind your time management, strength and stamina?
Sheikh Mohammed: The strength and stamina come from positive energy, and this energy is derived from exercise and training. I recognize many fit individuals sitting here before me. I don't know about the others in the back, but Exercise is crucial. Aside from my hobbies and interest in various sports, I like to walk 3 kilometers daily, 10 kilometers once a week and every two or three weeks I walk 20 kilometers. I make time for walking even if I'm engaged in important work. Hence, this is my normal exercise aside from my hobbies; horse riding, biking and so on. These activities generate the energy you need to do your job and provide you with strength.
Raed Barqawi: In spite of all the achievements, does His Highness think that the government’s performance in the UAE meets the leadership’s and the people's expectations? And do you intend to make changes in the cabinet especially that the last change occured in 2009?
Sheikh Mohammed:Brother Raed Barqawi you are always alert and prepared holding a knife behind your back. You asked two questions instead of one. But for the sake of Al Khaleej newspaper and Dr. Taryam, I will answer both questions. Firstly, does the achievement meet the expectations? Certainly, because of these achievements we reached high international standards and top positions. However, some facilities still need development and there are priorities. There is a need for constant progress in government services, achieved through collaboration. You ask, are we satisfied with these achievements or not? My reply to your question is “No”, we aim for further development and guidance for our people. We want to help them learn and discover their abilities. But if someone is falling behind or hindering the development and doesn’t move forward, it is important to bring in new blood and create new opportunities. Therefore, brother Raed, training and guidance are a must and we always seek what is best. Nothing comes to you easily. You need to make an effort. We are moving forward on this path with minimum hindrances and everyone is held accountable for their tasks As for your second question. Regarding a change in the Cabinet, you know me very well by now, if a change is necessary for the well-being of the nation and the citizens, I do not hesitate to implement it.
Question: How did you win first place in the international endurance race? And what's the story behind your success with horses?
Sheikh Mohammed: Thank you. Firstof all, it was an honor for me to achieve first place. Brothers Saif and Mansour are already familiar with this great challenge. I’ll recount it briefly to you. These competetions was attended by best American, European and Asian horses and riders. There was a team of 6 from each country; 6 horses and 6 equestrians. They are among top world professionals who dedicate all their time to their horses. It’s what they do but for me, it’s a mere hobby. They came from Europe, Japan and Australia and from all over the world confronted with such big names. We had to prepare our horses, and I had 4 horses that I had trained and could choose any one of them to enter the race and compete. However, the horse I picked was not a winner. We bought that horse 6 years ago from a small farm with a price of $20,000. The horse wasn’t trained and it had not participated in any race. But Hamdan Bin Mohammad and I rode it in Italy a month prior to the event. There were mountains and valleys and I won there. I realized that even though the horse did not race before and that this was a small race, it ran well. Therefore, it stuck in my mind how well he ran and carried himself. I presented it to the committee as my final choice. As mentioned before, every participant is specialized and expert in horses and they choose only 6 top contestants from America or Australia or any country. The race started and the weather kept changing. It changed like the seasons: heat, cold, wind That day, we faced obstacles such as rain and snow and then the temperature rose. Ladies and gentlemen, if you are riding your horse to cross 160 km from point A to point B, then you must maintain certain tempo. If you accelerate and move at the wrong pace you will wear your horse out and not reach the finish line and the same applies to slowing the horse down, you won't reach the finish line or win. So you have to be accurate while riding your horse and understand its ability. You calculate every move according to the horse’s ability. I was keen on that, so some riders outpaced me while others stayed behind. But at the end, I reached my goal. I won that race.
Ms. Aisha Al Yamahi: Your Highness, what is your opinion of the role of women in the Emirati society and their achievements? What are Mohammed bin Rashid’s new plans for them within future governmental programs?
Sheikh Mohammed: I am not alone in this, but all the officials, beginning with the President himself, support women. Observe the women in the audience here, they all hold leadership positions. Approximately 70 % of the graduates are women, 65% of them are government employees and around 30% have assumed leadership positions. I have noticed that women generally work harder and are more keen to learn, hence they have a bright future ahead of them. In my office alone, for instance, 85% of the employees are women. Thus, we have high expectations from them and excellent future plans are ahead. But to the men, I say: Beware they may as well take over your leadership positions.
Question from a Kid: When will you give me an iPad?
Sheikh Mohammed:Where is the Minister of Education? Give him the microphone
Minister of Eudcation: Your Highness, after the launch of Mohammed Bin Rashid's initiative for smart learning on April 2012, you insisted that we start in 2012. Since then, we have assigned teams to coordinate with our key stakeholders. The teams researched and learned about best practices applied in smart learning. This project is the first of its kind in the Middle East and it will be applied in the United Arab Emirates. So, the teams benchmarked systems implemented in Australia, Korea and Turkey. During a 4-month period, the core plan was developed and 16 schools were equipped to start the academic year in September. We started with 4 basic subjects: English, Arabic, Math and Sciences. Teachers were trained and we created an interactive environment by providing the necessary equipmentssuch as laptops and tablets. We also provided the necessary networks. Meanwhile, there is a plan for the beginning of next academic year which includes an additional 100 schools. Over the period of 4 years, the scope of the project will be completed and will integrate all schools. Hopefully the smart learning program will soon be a model of modernized education in the UAE. We are grateful for your support and for the cooperation and coordination from all our strategic partners. I would also like to inform this student, though I don’t know in which grade she is, we are introducing new educational content in the system and they will be uploaded on the Apple store. So this student will soon receive an iPad from Mohammed bin Rashid’s program.
Omran Al Briki: I am very fond of your personality and your ability to produce new innovative ideas to enhance the public sector. How do you generate all these ideas?
Sheikh Mohammed:I am not the only individual to come up with these ideas. Most of the ideas come from the employees while others come from customers and clients. During our daily interactions in the field, we welcome people’s ideas. People have different perspectives on matters. Being part of the military has taught us that a leader must listen to the soldier. Perhaps his opinion is more suitable. The Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, listened to and consulted with the believers. Many UAE nationals and residents are constantly proposing new ideas, some of which yield great achievements, innovations and excellence. Thus, the ideas are not derived from a single source, and they are not merely mine. The whole nation is involved in the process, including the residents. Last month, I met with some nationals and residents in Dubai Marina Yacht Club, and we had an informal discussion. I asked them to propose any ideas. An idea can come from anybody and all of you possess bright minds. Your ideas and creativity are always welcome, especially those that help in developing your country. Now you know that the ideas are generated from everyone.
Sara Abdul Aziz: I want to ask Your Highness What is the reason behind the UAE’s success?
Sheikh Mohammed:We welcome you Sara in the United Arab Emirates. The people of Saudi Arabia are our family, and they are always welcome in the UAE. As mentioned previously, we are diligently working to strengthen family tourism and we hope the responsible officials will fulfill the demands of this growing sector. They are currently working on some fascinating plans regarding this sector. Once again, we welcome you in the UAE. I do humbly ask you to send our regards to the beloved nation of Saudi Arabia.
Dear brothers, Each and every one of us here loves the UAE. We honor and admire our country thus it makes us one team. This love, collaboration and unity are the main reasons behind its success. Starting with the President, his brothers, Mohammed Bin Zayed and all the rest… everybody played a central role in the UAE’s establishment. 41 years have passed (since the founding of the UAE) and we are not the only reasons behind its success. The founders initiated the path, and we are merely complementing it…following their path. We were inspired by them, which means that every one of you participated in the UAE’s development. Everyone present here today and the viewers on TV. We succeeded because of you and not because of a single individual. So, dear Sara, our love for the UAE and the love of the citizens built the UAE as you see it today.
Mira: When will you visit our school?
Sheikh Mohammed: Khalifa, could you please check which school Mira goes to and in which Emirate? Mira, this week I will be attending sessions in this summit, however, I promise you that I'll be at your school on the first day of school next week. Arrange it please, Khalifa.
Nisrin Abdurabo Mohammed: I’m in the UAE for a visit. I would like to ask Sheikh Mohammed: one question. How did you manage to raise the UAE’s standard to this level and improve its economy? I would like to see that applied to all the countries in the world. Please show them how you raised the UAE’s rank to be among the top countries in the world. The citizens of the UAE do not need to immigrate in search of job opportunities. There’s no need for them to leave their home. On the contrary, the UAE has become known to the entire world as the “Europe of the Middle East”. That’s what we would like to know.
Sheikh Mohammed: Thank you Nisrin and welcome to the UAE. Of course, I can not claim to possess absolute knowledge. However, we definitely take pride in the achievements of all Arab countries. The success of the UAE is considered success for the Arab countries, and any success in the Arab Countries is a success for the UAE. We achieved our goals through teamwork. There are thousands of men and women constantly working behind the scenes. They are the reason behind UAE’s success. All of the individuals sitting before me have contributed to our progress, each and every man and woman. Only with competent and dedicated teamwork we can achieve. Once again, I welcome you Nisrin to the UAE.
Sami Al Reyami: What has become known as the Arab Spring was a revolution against tyranny and poverty. But many believe that its results didn't fulfill the aspirations of the Arab Nation that rebelled around two years ago. How do you foresee the future of Arab World? Considering the fact that you are the first political leader who predicted the events that affected the Arab Regimes. Does Sheikh Mohammed: Bin Rashid consider what happened to be an example for other nations in which the prerequisites of Arab Spring did not exist?
Sheikh Mohammed:Dear Sami, though we do not wish to steer this summit into the political realm, your question takes us back to politics. In 2004, I delivered a lecture in the Gulf University, Bahrain. In my speech, I addressed Arab leaders informing them that if reform was not achieved on a national level, their people will abandon them and history will judge them harshly. You may refer to the lecture if you wish. I also told them “Change or you will be changed eventually”. Sami, you mentioned the word ‘predicted’; I have to disagree with the term. I don't foresee the future. Only God knows the unknown. However, there were indicators and based on them I drew my conclusion. Brothers, you all know that I visited many Arab leaders, and I was honest with them. Some were outraged while others refused to listen referring to reports as proof. I told them “your reports are the source of your problem”. I am not seeking specific interests from you, and I don't share borders with you nor do I look upon your countries with greed. My advise wasn't meant for them as individuals, but rather for the interest of the Arab people. Fearing they will experience what they are now experiencing. I particularly told some of the Arab leaders that you have created chaos and now a revolution will take place. Some stole people's money and transferred it abroad while others offered them to other nations. Many denied having possessions at all, but people are smart. It has been almost 40 years. You may get away with your lie for a year or two. Ironically, some leaders started to believe their own lies. They started directing the media to spread the good news only and conceal the bad. They commanded some TV stations to stop broadcasting certain material. However, due to the emergence of social media and people in the Arab world are intelligent and after a long wait they realized that their patience is wearing out until their anger could not be contained further. We didn't want to discuss politics today, brother Sami, but you brought us back to it. Therefore, now we know that the world is changing. People want to live a good life. They want the state to spend money on them and for them. I'm not judging the previous or present governments nor am I judging the revolutions. All I want is for the Arab nations to evolve and move forward and achieve security, peace and prosperity. I do swear that the UAE wishes only the best for all our Arab brothers.
Rashid Al Uraimi: In the light of the challenges the Arab region is facing nowadays, what is Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid's vision for a stable future and comprehensive development in the United Arab Emirates?”
Sheikh Mohammed: You've mentioned challenges, and for a country to develop, it must face challenges. Brother Rashid, I can answer you briefly with three words: empowerment, education and emiratization. Those three aspects are our foremost priority as a government. Sheikh Khalifa strongly encourages empowerment and nationalization. We can see this vision manifested in ‘Absher’ initiative which has successfully employed 25,000 individuals so far. We are certain that through these three core elements we'll achieve our goals. I also urge my brothers in the private sector, who have benefited from this generous country, to stand up to their responsibilities and take part in the nationalization process; even if it is on a small scale.
Sheikha: Can you tell us about a day in your life as an ordinary man and not as a leader?
Sheikh Mohammed: Hello, dear Sheikha, that’s a good question. I’m happy to answer it. Greetings to you and all the beloved Bahrainis in the UAE. You will always be honored and welcome in the UAE. The UAE is your home country not your second country. We have good relations with Bahrain, with the King and all our dear friends there. Please convey my greetings to the people of Bahrain. My life is simple, Sheikha. Outside my official role, I lead a very simple life. I usually wake up early in the morning; it is a good habit we can all take on. If you decide to wake up at 6, you will wake up at 6. The biological clock in your mind will adapt to the timing quickly. One only needs to train his mind and the body will respond. I wake up in the morning to spend time with my loved ones, my family. I shower, pray and have breakfast with my family. Then, I enjoy some hobbies. I go to the desert or to sea. I ride my bike in the sand. I am very passionate about riding horses in the wilderness. It relaxes me to observe deers and search for their tracks and the tracks of rabbits. My life is simple, and I’m content with it. Sometimes, I pass by friends for a quick visit at their farms, and if they are not there I visit them in their homes. We meet over a cup of coffee. Sometimes, two or three of friends accompany me to the mall. Sometimes, they would recommend a restaurant where we have lunch and mingle with the public. Sometimes we take a walk by the sea or go on a hunting trip. This, Sheikha, sums up a normal day in my life as a normal man. A simple day and a simple life; however, it brings me joy and contentment.
Ali El Mihrizi: What was your reaction when you watched our national football team's victory in the final game of the Gulf Cup and where did you watch the match?
Sheikh Mohammed: I usually gather with friends to watch matches. We decide on a location. Sometimes, we watch them together. Since the weather was nice that day, I was with some friends at a ranch. We sat in front of the television and watched the game. As a soldier and a football player, I get anxious and eager when I see soldiers on battlefields or watch teams competing. When we scored the winning goal, I jumped and accidentally kicked the table and broke my toe. I thought the injuries would only happen on the football pitch! When the national team visited me they noticed my broken toe. it was bleeding. I think a journalist reported the incident too. That’s how I would describe my feelings that day it was thrilling.
Hessa Ahmad: You always speak about the positive energy; how can a person remain positive and optimistic while having to face daily challenges?
Sheikh Mohammed: We must accept Challenges and confront them. We can’t disregard their existence. Challenges are what they are, they need to be tackled and resolved. As mentioned, we have discussed this topic earlier, challenges should not deter the wheel of progress from moving forward. As I said, for 41 years and before my time, Zayed and Rashid never accepted defeat in the face of challenges. But as the challenge grew, they grew stronger. They stood up to their responsibility. They were never intimidated as others may be. I have never seen Zayed turn his back on a challenge. He confronted and conquered them. This cherished positive attitude we have honestly inherited from Zayed.
Salama Bin Saif: We all know that Emiratisation is a priority for Mohammed Bin Rashid. And you have announced 2013 the year for Emiratisation. Do you believe that all the efforts spent on Emiratization to this day have been successful in overcoming this problem?
Sheikh Mohammed: Dear Salama, regarding Emiratisation, empowerment and education we are merely at the beginning of the journey and must continue to the end. These are not my priorities alone, as I have mentioned before, they are also Sheikh Khalifa's priorities and the priorities of all our leaders. They are the priorities of our people. They are our top priorities, and we continue to develop them. Have we achieved success? Certainly we have, and we will continue to achieve. Challenges are upon us everyday, but they will not deter us. We will pursue our priorities with your help and support.
Emirati Child: Your Highness, how can I be an excellent horseman like you? What is the first step to becoming a good horseman?
Sheikh Mohammed: This young man has already taken his first step to become a good horseman when he asked this question. Merely asking the question sets him on the right path. Son, if you aspire to be a horseman then your first stepping stone is to love and cherish your parents. You need to obey and listen to them. You have to excel in your studies too. Respect towards others is a must, especially towards the elders. This will make you a better man. Horsemanship is about good morals and nobility. Once you earn the respect of your community, you can then move on to the easier part, the actual riding. You can join specialized clubs and schools. After that, you need to join a professional club for advanced training programs to polish your skills. However, you must remember first and foremost, gaining your parents’ blessings, excel in your education are crucial priorities
Khaled Al-Mansouri: There are many examples of successful experiences and practices on the local government level, why don’t we utilize these experiences to achieve similar success on the federal level?
Sheikh Mohammed: If you observe the attendees today, and it pleases me to see many of my brothers here, you will find that they include employees from both the local and federal governments. This is just one of the many meetings we have. As mentioned before, we all move on one path and exchanging knowledge and ideas, but we need them now to have a unified vision too. This is what we aspire for and I am very happy to see this promising future before us.
Aisha Ali Salem: I would like to thank His Highness for his concern about the well-being of teachers; I would like to know more about training and developmental programs which the government offers to teachers.
Sheikh Mohammed: I refer the question to The Minister of Education.
Minister Education: Teachers are certainly at the core of our human capital development plans. We started the teachers training programs many years back. In 2012, we trained 10,605 teachers which composes 70% of the total number of teachers. In 2013, we are aiming to train 12,887, which is about 85% of the total number or teachers. We also aim to train 932 assistant directors. The latest project the Ministry had launched is the school leadership program in cooperation with a well known international educational organization. This project aims to train 700 principals during the next 4 years, starting with 120 principals this month. Training is the foremost priority in our overall educational plans and programs. We primarily focus on teachers.
Sheikh Mohammed:I suggest the ministry should generate a leap and train 20 thousand teachers instead of 12 thousand.
Noura: Mohammed Bin Rashid, you are a passionate poet, a horseman, a sportsman and a successful leader; what is the link between these traits and how do they influence each other?
Sheikh Mohammed:Yes... Riding is about dignity, pride, nobility. My brothers and I learned valuable lessons from riding. The horses continue to teach us lessons. I love my horses and they care for me. Horse riding is a different realm. Horseback riding is in our blood. I recall when my brother Mansour Bin Zayed was occupied with some matters and stopped riding for two years, but he eventually returned. That explains my passion for horses. if you love your horse, your horse will love you back. As for poetry, that’s something else. The eye of the poet is intertwined with his heart. Did you know that a poet can see what other people don't? A poet knows about his audience more than they think. A poet is more aware of his surroundings than other people for a poet is a sensitive individual. Thus, he is more attentive and listens well. Poetry used to be a way of informing and communication. If a poem was used to recite a story then you ought to be 100% certain that it’s accurate unless the story is factual with evidence, that’s another matter. But if you heard a story which did not include a poem, you may doubt its validity. The poet's passion and perspectives on life are different. He visualizes beauty from a different angle. We have number of poets here, and they understand what I am referring to. A poet doesn't view the earth, the sky and the ocean in a hasty and rushed manner. A poet maintains an air of calm and serenity and deeply observes his surroundings. He is triggered by his passion for discovery and exploration and his love for everything beautiful. This of course helped refine my leadership abilities.
Ismael Al-Mazmi: I wanted to ask his Highness about the relationship between a leader and sports?
Sheikh Mohammed:I personally believe any leader must be athletic. Of course nobody admires an inactive leader. We should get used to change. Laziness is the source of depression and failure. Sport is truly important in one’s life. Many today suffer from hypertension, diabetes and other diseases; our ancestors never complained from such illnesses because they were more active. Nowadays, we consume more calories than we actually spend. It’s natural, the food is delicious, especially fastfood, and those attractive restaurants but we don't burn the calories we consume. A leader should be active to remain energetic and alert. Do you know that feeling when you get sick, feel lethargic, stay in bed for 2 or 3 days, start becoming sluggish and your intellectual activity deteriorates? That is why I advice you all to stay active and exercise. At times while I am cruising the desert, I come across ladies exercising, and I happily join them and offer them coffee and encourage them. Exercise is very important.
Dalal Abu Ghazala: Is it true that Dubai benefited from the Arab Spring where many investments flow in from countries that suffer from political crises especially in finance and real estate sectors?
Sheikh Mohammed: Dalal Abu Ghazala, I remember her. She is journalist since a long time in Al-Hayat Newspaper in London.
No, it’s not true. One cannot criticize another without evidence. There are many out there who might object, but they don't know the facts. If you don't have an answer, then one should not object or criticize. Since I replied in the negative to Ms. Dalal, I will now need to provide evidence for my words. My answer is that in the UAE we welcome approximately 10 million tourists annually. The majority of these tourists come from 10 strategic countries, including the GCC countries, and none of these strategic countries is among the countries Dalal is refering to. The nearest to us among the Arab countries is Saudi Arabia. Yes, we earned AED 30 Billion during the Arab Spring, give or take. You may claim that we exploited these events to gain benefit and money, but I say, Ms. Dalal, Had there been security and stability in those countries, they would have invested more than AED 30 Billion. But we have invested a lot more in these countries. The total UAE investments in these countries are much higher than that number.
Saeed Aldosari: It’s my pleasure to have the opportunity to visit the UAE, a beautiful country with stunning achievements. I wish that all Arab leaders will follow your example and accomplishments. I also wish that you pass on this message to every Arab leader to develop and raise their country’s standards as you did with yours.
Sheikh Mohammed: The UAE celebrates the development and progress of any Arab country. Apart from the countries that are currently experiencing turbulences, we will speak about progress in GCC countries. In the KSA for instance, many mega projects have been launched from which we mutually benefit; universities and other impressive projects under the leadership of King Abdullah. In Kuwait too, projects are being launched and the benefit is mutual as well. This also applies to Bahrain. Qatar is leading extraordinary work in education and petrochemicals. The benefit is always mutual between us and these countries. This also applies to Oman and its numerous projects. Oman is different today from what it was five years ago. Under the leadership of my brother Sultan Qaboos, progress is ongoing and we learn from them as well. So we don’t seek praise especially above other countries. We admire their work and we know where we stand. If one was to indicate where we fall short, we would be more content to know that instead. We have aimed high, and we want to achieve our goals. Hence, we benefit from projects in other countries. Each country drives its own plans and projects; may God bless them all.
Fawziya Ahmad: As an internationally successful leader, what would you advisethe leaders of the GCC countries?
Sheikh Mohammed: I just answer this question. I cannot advise them hence we learn from each other. Ms. Fawziya, you have heard my answer to this question; I am not in a position to advise the GCC countries, but I rather learn from them. We in the UAE look at the people of the neighboring GCC countries as our brothers. Therefore, we learn from them and from their huge projects and vice versa. We cannot give them any advice, but we do appreciate any advice from them to us.
Mohammad Al-Shamsi: What is Mohammed Bin Rashid's advice for him to succeed in his job?
Sheikh Mohammed: He just stepped in the right direction, isn’t that right? He is already on the path to success because he asked about it. I'll provide a brief answer since you've already taken a step forwardand and determined to be successful. I already congratulate you and you may benefit from me and from all the role models here. There are many leaders who can guide you as well. Keep up the good work and insist on being the first.
Sultan Al-Suwaidi: Who is your role model in life?
Sheikh Mohammed: Brother Sultan, my role model is our Prophet, our beloved “Mohammed”. I’m sure everyone here shares this sentiment. As for leadership role models, from whom I've learned a lot, are Zayed and Rashid. My father used to take me with him, since I was 6 years old, to cities in Europe and America. He taught me many lessons. It is my honor to tell you that since the Union was established, Zayed Bin Sultan always asked me to accompany him in all his trips outside the country. I truly learned a lot from him. He didn’t do that through words only. Sometimes, he asked me questions or showed me through his interaction with others. He didn't merely dictate to me what I should do because when we only hear words, we draw back a little. But we are more affected by seeing an example before us. Zayed was an exceptional leader, and I learned from him. Yes, I received my education from schools and universities, but I learned best from Zayed. He raised me, and he guided me. He taught me how to overcome difficulties and challenges and how to tackle interviews. With every politician he showed a different perspective. Whenever Zayed attended a private meeting with presidents I accompanied him and observed from a distance. I will recount a simple incident; when Arabs shunned Egypt because Sadat signed a peace treaty with Israel he met Presidnt Hafiz Al Assad of Syria. Assad at the time thought he had the support of the people and Sheikh Zayed insisted that Egypt must return to the Arab League. A critical meeting took place and Al Assad stood up yelling “What about the people?” but Zayed insisted on welcoming Egypt back. Assad answered him “We are supported by the Arab street”. Zayed looked at him and said: “The Arab people support you?” He said: “Yes, they support our leadership”. Zayed replied: “No one supports you; you may go back to your country if you wish but Egypt must return to the Arab League” and he made sure Egypt came back.
Jamal AL-Duwairi: How does Sheikh Mohammed: measure the performance of the ministers in the government? And how do you determine who is held accountable for falling behind? How many chances is a minister given before a change is instituted?
Sheikh Mohammed: We have electronic systems installed in all ministries. For example, Sheikh Saif can log into his ministry’s portal, the same with Sheikh Mansour, and from there they can access all the files, monitor workflow and observe various indicators. There are many indicators that we take into consideration. Hence, all ministries can be accessed and ministers can log into their own ministries’ systems and check their indicators. Simultaneously we monitor all ministries and all indicators from our end. Then we would notify the minister if any errors were found; though the minister is already aware of the mistakes because he or she can monitor his own ministry. We also have another method of monitoring and controlling the ministries. What is it, Musabah? I want to annoy him today I've worked with this man for over 40 years. We also have the ‘secret shopper program’ and this is our most important tool. We have auditors we send to ministries, and they write reports about their observations. The accounting department also monitors their work. Finally, and most important, we have the Federal National Council that also monitors the ministries’ work. If I recall the question correctly, I think he asked: how many chances do we give them? If the mistake was unintentional, we don't take it into consideration and we rather give a second chance. A person smart learns from his mistakes. However, if it was intentional and if this person insisted on going ahead, he needs to be penalized. But unintentional mistakes are forgiven. We all make mistakes, yet we learn from them. If you made a mistake and learned your lesson, then that is a good thing. Because when you fall, you won't stand up in the same spot, but you’d stand up a little ahead. That’s how you gain experience.
Question: What do the words ‘Spirit of the Union’ Signify to Mohammed Bin Rashid?
Sheikh Mohammed: It is the soil of the country. It’s the teamwork, and it’s the flag. It is our women, who are the soul of a place and a place for the soul. The teams are the spirit of the Union. The flag of the Union is its spirit. Sheikh Khalifa is the spirit of the Union. The spirit of the Union is our society.
Jamila Rashid: What does a man look for in a woman or wife?
Sheikh Mohammed:Musabah, Hand the microphone to Sheikha Lubna and Reem. they should be able to answer this question.
Sheikh Lubna: Your Highness, I guess a man should answer the question not a woman. I think a man seeks a fair and decent lady who can build a strong family and provide him with a peaceful environment and harmony. As for a woman’s demands from the husband is another issue that we better not discuss now but I think that harmony is very important in the marital life.
Sheikh Mohammed: As I mentioned before, my brothers and sisters, that the word "impossible" does not exist in the UAE vocabulary. It is a term invented by people who do not want to leave their ‘safe’ spot, who are fear to take challenges. But there’s a story that I would like to share with you. I'll give you a prize, Musabah, if you answer this question. Excuse me for targeting Musabah today but he annoyed me in the car today all the way from Marmum till here. He didn't let me hear anything. We sometimes hear people say It is not just impossible it is the fourth of all impossible things. So what are the ‘four’ impossible things? I'll tell you the story. The first is the phoenix; it soars in the sky and never lands on earth. You've read about it in school. One of the characteristics of the phoenix, Musabah...is that it never lands, does everything in the sky and never comes down. They say if the phoenix laid an egg in the sky while falling, the egg hatch and the baby phoenix grows feathers and keeps flying. It never reaches ground. The second impossible thing is the ogre which attacks tribes’ caravans and feed on their cattle. But we never found any archaeological traces for such creatures. The third one is difficult, and ladies let it be known to you all this is not my saying but those who came before have said this. The third impossible is the loyal lover. I didn't say that. Thank you and God bless you all.