Looking to a green future
From the first tribes who traversed the huge swathes of desert of the Al Dhafra region to take their seat in Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi to the Hope Probe covering millions of kilometres to reach its destination of Mars, the United Arab Emirates has always been on a journey, and one that is continually marching into the future.
The hopes and plans of the nation that came into being on 2 December 1971 are just as determined as the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan was 50 years ago when he united the Emirates and transformed Abu Dhabi into one of the most important cities on the planet.
Today, the city has decided to step in a new direction, steering away from oil that has been a critical factor in Abu Dhabi and the UAE establishing itself on the world stage as a destination which attracts thousands of ex pats and visitors every year, and instead is moving towards a path of clean energy sources.
Nine projects that are a part of its Net Zero by 2050 Initiative will see Abu Dhabi leave behind black gold for more sustainable, eco-friendly energy sources such as solar and nuclear power and the electrification of water production through reverse osmosis to help protect the environment.
Naturally, Abu Dhabi’s targets are ambitious with it being hoped that 55 per cent of emirate’s electricity in 2025 being derived from clean sources, cutting power generating emissions from 40 million tons of CO2 emissions in 2020 by half in 2025.
But never a city and country to shirk the challenge of managing multi-mega projects at one time, the United Arab Emirates attention is not just focusing on this planet.
Gazing upwards towards the sky, past the clouds and earth’s atmosphere is the United Arab Emirates next big goal, space.
Space exploration has been woven into the very fabric of the United Arab Emirates growth and development, from the late His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nayhan’s keen interest in it, to Major Hazza Al Mansouri becoming the first Emirati in space in 2019.
And the country’s burgeoning National Space Programme is showing no signs of slowing down as the United Arab Emirates continues to strive for new frontiers with intentions announced to launch for Venus in 2028 and to create a settlement on Mars by 2177.
Undoubtedly the United Arab Emirates has travelled far in its 50 years of existence. From early beginnings when the first tribes traversed the huge swathes of desert of the Al Dhafra region, to today as the UAE embarks on new journeys into a future where the sky is not the limit on this country’s potential and possibilities.
Team Yalla wishes everyone a very happy National Day
