July 2021

Our Early Dreamers

To say that the early dreamers’ stories we received in the past month were moving would be putting it mildly. The inception of the UAE undoubtedly carries with it extraordinary encounters between the rulers and the people, both the locals and the newcomers, in the process of establishing the foundation of the nation. Almost each and every early dreamer story is a personal recollection of these intimate experiences.

These stories don’t just add depth to the momentous achievements that we celebrate as a nation every year but also reflect the value that the country’s leadership placed on cultivating meaningful relationships with those who contributed to the development of the UAE. To the city that appears as a concrete jungle to the outside, its soul lies in the people that built it. From the sentimental telegram from Sheikh Zayed in response to a Syrian immigrant, and the prized necklace from Sheikh Rashid that’s been in a family for decades; these anecdotes show that the human dimension of the country’s success is as integral, if not more, to its continuous prosperity - not to mention the remarkable unity despite such diverse backgrounds of the people that have come to form this nation.  Do you or someone in your family and circle have similar memories you would like to share?