The Diplomat
The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Madrid, Majid al-Suwaidi, said on Wednesday, during the celebration of National Day, the 50th anniversary of the creation of the country, that it is has become the standard-bearer of a future-oriented model for the Middle East.
Majid-Al Suwaidi hosted a reception at the Palace of Santoña, which was attended by the Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Ahmad Belhoul, and senior officials of the Spanish Government. In his speech, the ambassador stressed that, in the half century of Emirates’ life, “many milestones” have been reached. “Guided by HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE has become a beacon of peace, tolerance and mutual understanding between different religions,” he said.
The ambassador also noted that the UAE “has become a global tourism and financial centre”, and recalled that last year it made history by becoming the first Arab country to launch an interplanetary probe to Mars.
He said the UAE is “the standard-bearer of a future-oriented model for the Middle East”, which he said “empowers women, embraces diversity, fosters innovation and welcomes global engagement”.
Noting that they hope its values and vision will take the country to new heights in the next 50 years, he said they are “proud to count Spain as a friend and a like-minded partner”, a friendship “that unites,” he said, “our two countries and is based on our shared values”.
For this reason, he said he was sure that bilateral economic, political and cultural relations would continue to grow stronger.
The reception was attended by numerous ambassadors, especially from Arab countries, as well as businessmen and other members of civil society. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was represented by the Director General for the Maghreb, Mediterranean and Middle East, Alberto Ucelay.
