Mohammed bin Rashid: The Gulf is a great tree with many branches, but its root and destiny are one - Sarmad

The Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, affirmed that the Gulf is a great tree whose branches have multiplied, yet its origin and destiny remain one.

In a message to the people of the Gulf, he said, “A message to the most beautiful dream… a message to our shared history… to our expansive geography… to our common lineage… to our deep-rooted kinship… a message to the single sea that unites us… and the vast desert that embraces us… a message to our Arabian Gulf… and its people, generations, intellectuals, and thinkers.”

He added, “We are the children of the Gulf. By God’s grace, we have all transitioned from simple towns to global metropolises, from modest fishing ports to hubs of international maritime routes, and from pearl diving to pursuing the world’s largest investments. We have moved into modernity, excellence, and globalization, yet, thank God, we have remained people of strong identity, unique culture, and distinct authenticity.”

He continued, “We are the children of the Gulf who, in a few short years, succeeded in building wealth, establishing institutions, connecting continents, hosting the largest events, and supplying the world with the energy that drives economies. But greater than that, we, the children of the Gulf, have succeeded in building human capital, instilling love for our homelands, and promoting values of coexistence and tolerance with all who have visited us, worked with us, and shared in our journey.”

He emphasized, “We are the children of the Gulf… the hope of the nation… its direction… and its aspiration to resume its civilization, strength, and glory.”

He said, “If homelands are built on history, then history unites us. If they are united by geography, then the sea connects us and the desert embraces us. If homelands are bound by blood and lineage, then we are people of extended kinship and shared ancestry. If they are built on shared ambitions and interests, then our goals are noble and our objectives are one.”

He added, “My brothers and sisters, children of the Gulf, the squares of geography, history, and blood will not unite us while the squares of media divide us. The single development and shared economic accounts will not unite us while social media accounts divide us. The development agendas will not unite us while those with narrow agendas and sick souls divide us.”

He clarified, “They will not be able to erase centuries of proximity, alter the facts of geography, or change the reality of lineage. What has united the Gulf is not political agreements, but generations that lived on its shores, mothers who prayed to God for the return of their sons, and fathers whom religion united on its soil. Hearts met in the Gulf before borders were drawn, lineages embraced before homelands were established, and love flourished before development began.”

He affirmed that the Gulf is a great tree whose branches have multiplied, whose fruits have adorned it, and whose shade has flourished, yet its origin is one, its root is one, its water is one, and its destiny is one, by God’s will.

In his messages, he said, “When the ambitions, wealth, and determination of the Gulf converge, impossibilities become merely projects not yet started. Look at our experience in our country when the will and resolve of the seven Emirates came together.”

He added, “Our convergence creates a bridge between continents, a home for the greatest civilizations, a global reserve of the greatest wealth, a beacon for the best centers of science, technology, and universities, and a global influence that stands against the greatest challenges. I am not speaking here of a union among our countries, or ignoring the uniqueness of our experiences, but rather of our convergence and cooperation, managing our differences, strengthening our institutions, and coordinating our efforts; because history teaches us that the whole is stronger than the sum of its parts, and that strength does not mean being a single copy, but rather diverse experiences that create a new civilizational momentum in our region.”

He clarified that unity does not lie in opening borders, but in the convergence of hearts. Strength does not reside in erasing differences, but in managing them to generate new vitality. When different rivers flow into a single sea, they do not lose their names; rather, they create an ocean of opportunities, wealth, and strength.

He concluded his messages with optimism for the Gulf, affirming that he would remain steadfast: “The Gulf will endure, God willing, with its deserts, its people, its seas, and its ports; with its projects and the ambition of its generations; with its vast spaces where our dreams will soar, dreaming that our Gulf remains one and our people remain one. It proclaims with an unceasing voice: I am a Gulf Arab, and I am proud to be a Gulf Arab.”