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A rare model of modern leadership; this is an accurate description, fair portrayal and logical conclusion of the leadership scene on this land, the UAE land deservedly boasting these days of its achievements and successes.

Our words will not do justice to describe this beloved leadership. Words will not be adequate to describe either the governance we are talking about or the vision of the leader directing us.

The earlier days were brimming with patience and sacrifices, but our Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of our nation and builder of our renaissance, the visionary and leader was able to lead us towards the shore of safety and security.

Sheikh Zayed, May he Rest in Peace, is the epitome of wise leadership and vision of a leader at the same time. He is a “Distinguished Leader”.

He understood this land very well and studied its details. The UAE filled his heart and soul and he wholeheartedly strived for the Emirates, its present and future, throughout his life.

 

Today every citizen feels a sense of achievement and fulfillment, as the UAE sweeps first ranks in each field. The UAE has been ranked the happiest place in the Arab World. Citizens of the UAE are the happiest as a result of the ongoing effort of leaders, government and the people. His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President. The achievement is due to mutual efforts but Mohamed bin Rashid attributes the achievement to the support and follow-up of Khalifa. Everyone worked hard for the UAE. Everyone worked and sacrificed and let’s all remember our government that does not sleep and those who work behind the scenes day and night to achieve results like these at the Arab and international levels.

The UAE ranks first on the happiness scale. This means a lot. It means that the UAE citizen lives happily and satisfied. It means that the UAE citizen is not worried about himself, his home and children, his land and country. He lives in development and progress, observing, contributing and being happy, thus gaining more confidence.

This achievement would not have occurred if it was not for the coordination of efforts from leaders to each individual in the government, and each senior and junior employee. The family also has a major role: Fathers, mothers, parents and society with all its classes.

The UAE attracts today more than two hundred global nationalities and acquires its unique status based on tolerance, moderation and openness and takes huge steps in development, economy and culture and at the same time, through institutional work, achieves its national identity. This is the UAE and its leaders who deserve to be congratulated for their efforts and well-deserved achievements.

No one can deny that our State has made human development its ultimate goal based on a clear vision, faith and persistence. In this context, there were many perspectives on leadership and the skills a leader in any organization should possess.

Although I am among the ones who believe that leadership skills can be learned and acquired and a person may develop his or her intrinsic skills in the right direction so that they can direct a group of people to achieve a certain goal, at the same time, I believe that influential leaders in any organization or department are rare either from a psychological or physical energy aspect. Difference and distinction between human beings is a natural law and the different skills among people are an order used by God to assign roles to people to balance the universe. Each person is created with certain capacities; if everyone became a leader, who will lead them then?

If you look around you to read people’s biographies and tendencies, you will find that true leadership may come to a person without their will or desire. It is not a coincidence but a big part of it was intrinsic. For example, you may find that this same person among his siblings in his small family is the center and is the consultant; his family members seek his advice in their affairs and in hard times and for decision-making; he is the one who takes initiative before being asked to do something; he is the one who is always concerned with others’ affairs; he reaches out to them with assistance without intervention; He is always ready to give without waiting to take.

Look around you and you will find that God each family has one such person whereas the rest of the family members enjoy being leaded by others and are very irritated if they are asked to make crucial decisions. Such persons with intrinsic characteristics are the ones who assume leadership in their organizations or the projects they run and the tasks they handle. They are usually successful in these roles as well.

There is no doubt that management differs from leadership. It is sufficient for a successful manager to carry out instructions accurately and diligently and is fully satisfied to do that. A manager can always be relied on in that. A leader carries a vision; he is risk-taking; he has a sense to see what others cannot see; he may foresee opportunities for success that others cannot foresee; he is also capable of making decisions that require calculated risk that others try to avoid.

Although leaders are human who are correct and make mistakes, but their regret is positive and not negative. Positive regret occurs when an individual makes a decision that might be wrong. Negative regret is regretting not taking a certain decision or leaving behind an opportunity for success without making use of it. There is a huge difference between the two types of regret.

Hence, a leader is the one who has enough courage to bear the responsibility for making crucial decisions that may affect that future of the organization in case they fail and may form an unprecedented transition and advancement if they fail. Many people try to avoid that preferring safety and fearing the future and satisfied with their current state. Calculated risk is an integral part of a leader’s character.

The true leader of any institution is always on the hunt for the challenge to achieve goals that others may find as impossible or even beyond what has ever been imagined, whereas he sees them as possible and achievable. He is not satisfied with only achieving the goal, but he seeks to achieve goals with much distinction.

In my opinion, a leader does not talk much about his previous achievements only, but once he finishes reaching a goal or a milestone, he aspires to achieve more. He lives in an ongoing battle of success, in which he does not assess himself and his achievements in comparison with other surrounding institutions but primarily on a scale of challenging himself.

The true leader is certain that people who work with him, and not for him, have momentums that need to be let out if he can use the keys to their characters well. He is also certain that each task assigned to any of his surrounding individuals is a valuable task, however simple it might be and that individuals regardless of their professional levels, have ideas that should be appreciated and benefitted from.

Hence, a leader listens more than he talks and does not talk except after listening to all points of view without discrimination. He prioritizes the interest of the organization before favoring a particular opinion. He does not take decisions before consulting those around him and his decisions are not necessarily a choice from alternatives placed before him. His decisions might be contrary to suggested alternatives as long as they are supported by logic and reasoning. At the same time, he has the courage to back out of a decision he made that does not carry an interest or will lead to unfavorable results for the organization.

The true leader has the courage to apologize if he makes a mistake. He is human after all. Admitting a mistake is one of the major elements of success. It is the wall of trust that rises day after day between him and his team.

The true leader’s relationship with his employees is not restricted to the work environment with its orders and prohibitions and Dos and Don’ts. He realizes that his employees are human beings who can also be happy and sad; hence, he is keen on sharing their happiness and grief. Emotions are always present in his interactions with others.

The true leader of any organization is approachable and realizes that a genuine part of his duties is the making of qualifies leaders to bear responsibility after him so that the journey of success may continue.

Despite all that, I stress once again that leadership skills can be acquired and learned by gaining experience. These leadership skills are not impossible to acquire and many of us can do it, but only few of us can reach creativity.

 

Dean of Faculty of Information, Mass Communication and Humanities – Ajman University of Science and Technology

Note: The article in published in Al Bayan newspaper

 

 

Brothers and sisters, on my way now to the Cabinet meeting, I feel that much positive energy is running throughout the UAE. It is an energy filled with love, giving and work. I call upon everyone without exception to direct their momentums to build a future carrying welfare and prosperity for us, our children and our families. We ask God to reward us for our endeavors to develop the UAE. These were the words of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum while on his way to the Cabinet meeting yesterday through his Twitter account. These were inspiring words for the sons and daughters of this nation who follow the Prime Minister, his high spirits, messages and calls. Through these words, I was certain about the positive results that the meeting will yield. Through this message, I realized the amount of work and efforts exerted by the Cabinet to serve the nation and its people, the national priorities.

We all have to realize the responsibility upon our shoulders to maintain this nation, enhance its abilities, further its accomplishments and continue the process of overall development adopted by the state in a way that impressed the entire world. We should continue achieving successes and adding new scenes of creativity and innovation. This is the goal that our leaders constantly seek to achieve. No one should think that the accomplishments of our country and achievements of the government and leadership are their concern only. No one should think that the process of building a developed nation is the responsibility of the leaders and government only; the citizen is directly concerned with the reputation, achievements and strong global standing of the UAE which we are very proud of among nations and peoples worldwide. Our responsibility is to contribute with our strength, determination and perseverance in the challenge undertaken by our state. With the strength of the sons and daughters of the nation, developmental building takes place and the wheel of overall development on which the state relies since the formation of the union shall keep rotating. The UAE was and still is a model and example that is followed in different arenas. It is a valuable harvest that we should maintain and ameliorate by hard and honest work. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s message calling for directing our energies to build a future carrying welfare for us, our children and families to develop the UAE should be our guide towards prosperity, work, success and progress, which we aim to achieve. Through work, devotion and commitment, the boundless ambitions of the UAE can be achieved. The UAE always accepted challenges calling for building and accomplishment to achieve glory for this nation and its people. This love was instilled in each of us by our leaders who encourage us to be in the leading position and always in pursue of more achievements, successes and pride for our cherished UAE. If these were the ambitions of the Cabinet and its leaders, there is no doubt that they are correctly leading our nation towards glory and progress.

It was at the beginning of the seventies of the past century that His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum toured the city and examined the conditions of people by land and air as we saw in a footage broadcasted yesterday by the Media Office through a channel for Sheikh Mohammed on YouTube showing HH flying a helicopter on a tour over Dubai.

At the time, he was neither a ruler nor a crown prince. He was the Minister of Defense, but he sought to know by himself the needs of people, and thus he approached them and still does. Rising in positions did not change him, but his actions sprang from his own beliefs rather than pretentious actsto seek fame

I meant to start my article by mentioning the time period when HH was examining the conditions of citizens in a desert area that looked remote. At that time, the human rights organizations knew nothing about this area or this part of the world. There were no social network sites; there was no Twitter; there was no Facebook. There were only rulers who loved their people and people who were loyal to their land and rulers.

The field trips and the open door policy are the main elements. The interaction of the ruler with his people was what that generation experienced. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has pursued the policy of his father and ancestors in communicating with his people, understanding their needs, reaching out to them, visiting their houses to fulfill their needs, giving them rides in his plane to their remote areas in the seventies and he still drives them in his car. In that footage, we saw him talking with an old man and drinking coffee. Some years ago, we saw him with that old man sitting together on a bare floor. He asked that man about what he needed 40 years ago and he built a new house for him and furnished it some years ago. This is only one example but HH’s acts of benevolence are countless. He did not do that for fame or glory, but because he is a ruler who performs his responsibilities and the duties entailed by his position. He gives people their rights as granted by the State.

Neither he nor Sheikh Zayedwerefortunetellers. They had insight. Zayed did not listen to what experts had to say when they warned him about desert reclamation. They were later amazed at the different types of plants and trees that grew throughout Abu Dhabi. Mohammed bin Rashid was inspecting muddy and empty areas by air but he was aware that this land will one day carry huge projects transforming Dubai from a small unknown city into a developed city competing with and exceling over major cities worldwide.

Our rulers are humans like us. This is their main feature that many are missing. They are humans who walk among us, examine people’s conditions, sit with citizens, eat their food, celebrate with them and share their grief. They are also aware that there are changes and gaps which they continuously seek to adapt to and fill.

Our leaders have the wisdom, foresight and ability to envision the future, which makes the fatherly speech delivered by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qassimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, an extension of the intellectual speeches that were given by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyab, may God bless his soul.

The speech of HH Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah, which he gave to the young people is deemed an “intellectual framework” and an honest motivator of work that benefits the nation and the citizen. It is a treasure of wisdom delivered by HH to his sons, the young people of this cherished nation.

Our responsibility is large in extracting the lessons and morals from the words of HH, the Ruler of Sharjah. All the institutions operating throughout the State also have a major role in education and raising awareness. This role should not be limited to educational and cultural institutions as it is a national and collective responsibility imposed on everyone. All officials should handle it with utmost seriousness and care.

Today’s young people need actual and ongoing awareness which should start at home, continue at school and university and all stages that our youth go through to protect them from falling victims to the media and foreign agendas that try to use our youth to serve their goals.

 

Note: This article was published in Al Khaleej newspaper, Page 9, Issue 11998, Date 25/3/2012

Many public and private institutions seek to reward their employees with the aim of encouraging others towards studious and committed work, but there is a point that should be raised: why neglectful persons are not punished to be an example for those who perform their jobtasks and duties carelessly? It should be taken into consideration that there are many careless employees who do not perform their job tasks, assuming that they will not be held liable for their negligence.

This behavior and manner lead to a spirit of indifference and negligence in work. Those concerned with public welfare recognize that psychological frustration leads to destruction of the human soul, then the destruction of the surrounding environment. This is the dilemma of the seemingly developed world or those who cannot be ignored due to deterioration in the development and progress fields.

It is known that most annual reports on the performance of employees are copycats of those of the previous year. These reports protect those in charge to prove to senior executives that work is progressing well.

Perhaps this situation is the logical interpretation of the phenomenon that some persons occupy some positions although not being adequately qualified or competent, whereas some institutions ignore national competent personswho are unfortunately substituted by personnel from other nationalities. They depend on the moods and interests of the investors whether individuals or institutions that pay those foreigners millions of dirhams each year.

Is it possible that the state lacks competent nationalswho are capable of running many institutions either public or private after forty years of founding the federal state? If it possible that there are no academic competent persons to run academic institutions such as universities and institutes, or is it the case that “cultural cringe” still dominates our lives until now?

One of the main factors of frustration is that some positions are assigned to foreigners whose only qualifications are their blue or green eyes.

Within this framework, it should be highlighted that many nationals have asserted their obvious success in many institutions that they run with high praiseworthy efficiency and achievement.

The dilemma starts with those executives who fear for their material and moral gains, hence, they conspire against the nation and nationals.

Lately, nationalization and its importance has been a hot topic, but it is not rightly implemented without knowledge the majority of decision makers either on the federal or local levels and even in most GCC countries who claim that they seek to implement the job nationalization policy and give their nationals priority in holding positions, but unfortunately this is not what we see in the major institutions such as government and semi-government universities.

It is also noted in the media and means of communication that nationals are excluded under false and subjective reasons as some believe in the importance of qualifying the nationals.

The educated citizen is proficient in many foreign languages beside Arabic; he/she can use efficiently modern technology, etc., but early retirement is high in demand which is an indication of the state of frustration and giving up before blue-eyed foreigners and white collars.

Perhaps a naïve yet painful question comes to mind: Why the home countries of these experts do not make use of their genius nationals instead of exporting them to the GCC countries?

Haven’t we realized that those foreigners are a tool of suppressing creativity of a person in his own country or is it the case that satisfying foreigners has become more important to us? The safety valve for everyone is the home front, while foreign countries have a number of agendas and plans, and still treat the region as a gold mine. These so-called experts do not hold qualifications or expertise except in the minds of some people. As the proverb goes, one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.

You may be surprised at the title of the article and may think that itcannot possibly be true and that the idea that no passwords will be needed to log into your email account, your computer or a certain site or social network is impossible or hard to believe at least now. Honestly, your assumption is true; how is it possible to dispense with passwords?

Nowadays, hacking and piracy have become common and it has become easy for hackers to steal other people’s passwords by only using your computer or browsing some of its contents. Passwords today have become one of the necessities of this age of technology. Dispensing with passwords is like giving up your privacies to millions of people in the open sea called the Internet. Despite the importance of passwords, IBM scientists predict thatwithin five years, computers and smart phones will be able to mind-read, i.e. your smartphone will be able to read your mind to perform a particular action without the need to press a button or say it loud. This technology is similar to Siri on Apple’s new iPhone 4S.

IBM asserted that there are many other technological innovations that will see the light soon, foremost among these major changes, according to IBM, is disappearance of passwords which will be substituted by “biometric data”. Your biological makeup will be the key to your individual identity.

Among the technology companies that have started adopting this approach, which is dispensing with passwords, is Google, through its latest version of Android that can read facial features in place of passwords to log into a computer, or log into your email account. In the near future, I believe that the no-password approach will not be as startling. The process of creating your password, typing it and remembering it for multiple accounts and log-ins will sooner or later be something from the past. You will not need to remember it or write it down on a paper locked away in fear someone might see it. You will not need to hide your fingers while typing your password at the ATM in fear an eye might catch it. Within the next few years, your password will be (You), so make sure “you” don’t get stolen.

 

Peace be upon you,

The words of HH Lieutenant General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Interior and Deputy Prime Minister and EIDA Vice-Chairman, during the ceremony of honoring the work team of Sheikh KhalifaAward for Government Excellence program, represented a harmonious, integrated and intellectual system on distinction and the distinguished, creativity and creators and the endless and limitless dreams and ambitions of our leaders.

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We should stop at these words…

When HH addressed the winners of the Minister of Interior Award for Excellence in its first round, he was addressing us all, we the sons and daughters of this dear country, much cherished to our hearts, this country that always gives us like a mother who is full of love, warmth, care and affection.

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HH’s words about excellence, his call for developing public service and his assertion that it is not a luxury but a national and moral duty, puts us in confrontation with ourselves, our responsibilities and our obligations towards our country that we love and cherish.

Creative work, as HH says, has become an integral part of the responsibility towards the people and nation distinguished by its leadership and people.

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What great values and noble meanings!

They are firm values and deep meanings, those that underline the words of HH about distinction and innovation, loyalty and gratitude, present and future generations, and most importantly the valuable trust we carry in our deep hearts towards our country, leadership, society and future of our generations!

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We are proud to belong to this leading school of thought, the school of HH from which we learn day after day more giving and devotion, more excellence and innovation and more loyalty and gratitude.

Let HH’s words be a roadmap for us all, we the team at EIDA where we belong. In order to achieve its vision and goals, we should exert our utmost effort. This nation, while we continue on our journey of giving, excellence and innovation, deserves a lot from all of us.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters

Let’s Renew our Commitment

To benefit from the pure wisdom of our unique leaders, and learn more from their honest guidelines, deep vision, noble goals and refined purposes.

I ask God to help us all do our job honestly and preserve the trust bestowed upon us by our leaders; to continue the journey of honest work in order to achieve their vision, and make their dreams and ambitions a reality…

No one agrees to error. This is a strict principle. However, this is not the end; disagreement alone does not represent the minimum level of protection. It is necessary then to pay attention in daily work to error, starting from the possibility of its occurrence not on purpose to errors committed on purpose to grave violations that may cause corruption.

Each individual and public employee has the primary role of being cautious and diligent as well as complying with regulations and mechanisms and be truly responsible through awareness and deliberateness rather than leaving matters to chance.

The institution also has its role in direction and organization then monitoring and following up and applying the necessary penalties. This is the way to identify errors before they are committed and before they multiply and take severer shapes.

Control starts by oneself and an institution is a group of individuals with relations set out in the regulations and organizational structures and according to the accurate job descriptions so that duties, positions and roles are well-defined and known. Thus, assessment is done based on this knowledge.

This awareness should be based on the notion that a small error is significant and that a small error may lead to a bigger one and corruption takes place through negligence and accruement of errors whose committers thought at the beginning that they are marginal and insignificant.

After all, fire starts if a spark is underestimated?