UAE to prioritise nationalisation - Sheikh Mohammed

UAE Vice President and ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has asserted 2013 as the year of creating jobs for UAE nationals, state news agency WAM reported on Tuesday.

Sheikh Mohammed chaired a cabinet meeting at the Union House and said a range of initiatives and policies will be launched to deal with the Emiratisation as a national priority at all levels next year.

His Highness also launched a large set of national initiatives during the cabinet meeting to mark the occasion of the 41st National Day of the UAE, WAM reported.

Minister of Interior Sheikh Lt. General Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Minister of Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the meeting.

"The most important characteristic of the founding fathers and the most important lesson we learned from them is that the citizen is the priority, and we should give importance to building humans before building edifices,” he said.

“We announce today from this place that the year 2013 will be a year of creating jobs for UAE nationals that will be a national priority for which all efforts must unite".

During its meeting, the cabinet also approved the "Charter of Values and Conduct of the UAE National" which aims to raise a generation of nationals who are aware of their responsibilities and duties towards the nation, family and community.