A Message to the Gulf People

They will not be able to erase centuries of proximity and alter the facts of geography.

We are the sons of the Gulf. By God’s grace, we have succeeded in building human capital and instilling a deep love for our homelands.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, addressed a message to the people of the Gulf within his book “The Messages,” the second part of “Life Taught Me.” This volume comprises 26 messages that His Highness directs to his children, his family, his team, his nation, and the world. It encapsulates the essence of six decades of public service, serving as a knowledge and intellectual reference for current and future generations.

The following is the text of the message:

A message to the most beautiful dream... A message to our shared history... To our extended geography... To our common lineages... To our enduring kinship... A message to the single sea that unites us, and the vast desert that embraces us... A message to our Arabian Gulf, its people, its generations, its intellectuals, and its thinkers.

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

We are the sons 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 are the sons of the Gulf who have succeeded in building human capital and instilling a deep love for our homelands, while enhancing values of coexistence and tolerance with all who visited us, worked with us, and shared in our journey.

We are the sons of the Gulf... the hope of the nation... its sanctuary... and its aspiration to resume its civilization, strength, and glory.

If homelands are built upon history, then history unites us. If they are united by topography, 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 upon shared ambitions and interests, then our goals are noble and our objectives are one.

My brothers and sisters, sons of the Gulf,

The squares of geography, history, and blood will not unite us while the squares of media divide us. The single development path and shared economic accounts will not unite us while social media accounts divide us.

Shared development agendas will not unite us if we are divided by those with narrow agendas and sick minds.

They will not be able to erase centuries of proximity, alter the facts of geography, or change the reality of lineage. What united the Gulf was not political agreements, but generations who lived on its shores, mothers who prayed to God for the return of their sons, and fathers whose faith united them on its soil. Hearts met in the Gulf before borders were drawn. Lineages embraced before homelands were defined, and love flourished before development began. The Gulf is a great tree whose branches have multiplied, whose fruits have adorned it, and whose shade has flourished. Yet its root is one, its water is one, and its destiny is one, by God’s will.

My brothers and sisters,

When the ambitions, wealth, and drive of the Gulf converge, the impossible becomes merely projects that have not yet begun. Look at our experience in our country when the will and determination of the seven Emirates came together.

Our convergence creates a bridge between continents, a home for the greatest civilizations, a global reserve of the greatest wealth, and a beacon for the best centers of science, technology, and universities. It generates a global influence that stands firm against the greatest challenges.

I am not speaking here of a union between our countries, nor of ignoring the uniqueness of our experiences. Rather, I am speaking 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.

The unity lies not in opening borders, but in the convergence of hearts. Strength does not come from erasing differences, but from 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.

I am optimistic about the Gulf, and I will remain so... The Gulf will endure, God willing, with its deserts, its people, its sea, and its ports... with its projects and the ambition of its generations... with its vast spaces where our dreams will soar, that our Gulf remains one and our people one... calling with an unceasing voice: “I am a Gulfi, and I am proud to be a Gulfi.”

May God protect the Gulf... and perpetuate its honor, glory, and prosperity.

Your brother,

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum