There are few countries in the world that have experienced the upward trajectory of the UAE in the past five decades.
In December 2021, the UAE will celebrate its 50th anniversary and the accomplishments that have seen the country go from an undeveloped desert to missions in outer space.
The union of the emirates was announced on December 2 1971 and the changes in the nation since that moment could not be more stark.
More than 200 nationalities now call the UAE home, the country has the world’s tallest building, record-breaking attractions and some of the world’s most luxurious hotels.
Now, the UAE is ranked 17th in the top 20 economies in the world, Dubai and Abu Dhabi are leading tourist destinations, global and local events have gained worldwide attention and acclaim from the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and the Dubai Rugby Sevens to the FIFA Club World Cup and the Special Olympics World Games.
“In the beginning, cultivating the desert was just a dream, mainly due to the scarcity of water, tough climate conditions, the nature of the soil and high levels of salinity,” Said 75 year-old Emirati citizen Rashid Mohammed Al Mazrouei.
“However, because to the efforts of Sheikh Zayed, the greenery began to increase little by little until the UAE became a leading country in palm tree agriculture, containing 40 million palm trees with an estimated crop value of nearly AED2 billion.”
In the past year, two Emirati astronauts visited the International Space Station and the Hope Probe started its journey toward Mars.
From the desert to the stars in five decades. What will the next 50 years hold for the UAE?
