Union Pledge Day marks 55 years of UAE's journey of progress

The UAE marks Union Pledge Day on July 18, commemorating the Founding Fathers' signing of the Declaration of the Union and the Constitution in 1971— an historic milestone that launched a journey of development and progress.

The occasion honours the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the Founding Rulers, whose commitment to unity laid the foundations of the nation.

It also renews the country's pledge to uphold the values of loyalty, national unity and continued progress.

Over the past five decades, the UAE has grown into a leading global nation, building on the legacy of Sheikh Zayed, advancing under the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and continuing today under the leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The country's progress continues to be reflected in global rankings.

In the 2026 World Competitiveness Report, the UAE ranked fifth globally and remained the region's top-performing nation for the tenth consecutive year.

It also ranked first globally for economic performance, topped 21 global indicators, and placed among the world's top five in 67 indicators.

The economy continues to expand, with non-oil foreign trade reaching a record AED 3.8 trillion in 2025. Non-oil exports saw strong growth, rising by more than 45 per cent to exceed AED 813 billion.

The UAE has also strengthened its humanitarian efforts, expanding relief and development programmes, responding to international crises, and building partnerships to support vulnerable communities around the world.

Internationally, the UAE continues to promote dialogue, cooperation and peaceful solutions to conflicts, while supporting global security and stability.

The country is also investing in its future through advances in space exploration, artificial intelligence, innovation and clean energy, as it continues its transition towards a sustainable, knowledge-based economy.