Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has emphasised that the UAE, led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has global ambitions to be the first in the world in innovation, economy, tourism, energy and other sectors, and the most important matter for the UAE leadership is to be the first in ensuring happiness for the UAE people.
This came when His Highness Sheikh Mohammed granted the Medal of Top Emiratis to 43 Emirati persons, who have had a head start in various educational, health, economic, military, sports and other fields in the country, in addition to a group of Emirati achievers in the fields of distinguished innovations, inventions and initiatives.
The ceremony was attended by H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and other ministers, where H.H. Sheikh Mansour received a Medal of Top Emiratis on behalf of "The Mother of the Emirates".
Speaking on the occasion, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed said that, "The late Sheikhs Zayed and Rashid were the first to state that they would do well not be satisfied without achieving first place and they noted that the UAE people love the first rank."
Commenting on honouring of H.H. Sheikha Fatima, Sheikh Mohammed said, "She has set an example in the women empowerment field through developing their capacity building to keep pace with the international development in this respect. Through her perseverance she supplied the country with efficient women cadres capable of contributing effectively to the UAE's nation-building".
Sheikh Mohammed expressed his satisfaction about the volume of societal participation in nomination of 137, 000 candidates over 15 days.
"The strength of the Union lies in the strength of Emiratis. And the future of the Union depends on excellence of Emiratis. The excellence of Emiratis in all fields is the key to success among other nations," he added, noting that the honorary occasion is to highlight the success of outstanding Emiratis so as to set an example for others.
He added that the UAE ambitions to score top positions could not be attained unless each Emirati youth, ministry, department and institution aspire to score top position. Sheikh Mohammed underlined that the future of UAE will be realised by top achievers equipped with the excellence and innovation.
The ceremony was also attended by Lt. General Misbah bin Rashid AI Fattan, Director of the Office of the Vice President, Khalifa Saeed Suleiman, Director- General of the Department of Protocol and Hospitality in Dubai.
Sheikh Mohammed honoured 43 Emirati personalities by awarding them Emirati Top Achievement Medals. Their names will be archived in the UAE memory in the Government Year Book.
The list of honorees of year 2014 includes the following: The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
First Emirati college graduate: Sheikh Mohammed bin Saeed bin Ghobash.
First Emirati woman teacher in the formal education: Sheikha Na'ama bin Majid Al Qasimi.
First Emirati woman teacher in the formal education: Amina Salim Al-Hajri.
First Emirati Doctor with university degree: Dr. Ahmed Kadhim.
First Emirati martyr: Corporal Salem Suhail Khamis.
First Emirati to join the Armed Forces: Colonel Mohammed Saleh Al Qayedi.
First Emirati woman to join the Armed Forces: Brigadier doctor / Asmaa Sultan Al Mughairi.
The first Emirati university professor: Dr. Rashid Abdul Rahman Al Saeed.
The first Emirati woman to hold a PhD Degree: Dr. Aisha Al Al Sayar.
The first Emirati Editor -In-Chief of a daily newspaper after the establishment of the Union: Khalid Mohammed Ahmed.
The first Emirati radio anchor : Hessa Al Asali.
The first Chairman of Supreme Federal Court : Abdul Wahab Abdoul.
The first Emirati woman to join the judiciary: Kholood Joua'an Al Dhahiri.
The first Ambassador of the UAE after the establishment of the Union: Dr. Ali Al Humaidan.
The first Emirati woman Ambassador: Sheikha Najla Al Qasimi.
The first Emirati policeman: Mohammed Saeed Buhumaid.
The first Emirati novel writer: Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi.
First Emirati banker: Essa Saleh Al Gurg.
The first elected woman to the membership of Federal National Council: Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi.
The first Emirati national team coach: Juma Ghareeb.
The first Emirati to win the Olympic gold medal: Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Hasher Al Maktoum.
The first Emirati nurse : Hussein Qa'ed.
The first Emirati woman photographer: Sheikha Al Suwaidi.
The first Emirati to win the global medal in the para-Olympic: Humaid Hassan Murad Al Mazem.
The first Emirati woman to win the Olympic medal: H.H. Sheikha Maitha bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The first captain of the national team: Ahmed Essa.
The first Emirati international referee: Abdullah Al Sai.
The first Emirati inventor: Saqr Majid Al Marri.
The first Emirati child selected among 8 most genius children in the world according the CNN: Adib Suleiman Al Baloushi.
The first Emirati nuclear engineer: Amani Al Hosni.
The first director of project for launching the UAE satellite: Salem Humaid Al Marri The first Emirati to invent artificial livre from hollow fibre in the world: Professor Ali Al Naqbi.
The first Emirati who invented DNA male profile for criminal use in the world: Rashid Hamdan Al Ghaferi.
The first Emirati woman to make a genetic map for prevention and early detection of diabetes: Dr. Habiba Al-Saffar.
The first Emirati woman to invent a device to introduce catheter tube through a vein for crucial heart operations: Dr. Hawaa Al Mansouri.
The first Emirati to invent a mechanism for generation of biofuels with industrial quantities using genetically-modified algae: Ahmad Al Harethi.
The first international Emirati robotics expert: Mohammed Mattar Al Shamsi.
The first Emirati inventor to win the gold medals at the World Inventions Exhibition: Ahmed Majan.
The first Emirati to invent the automatic detection of toxic gases in the oil and gas fields through thermal reading: Dr. Mohammed Marzouqi.
First blind Emirati to obtain a PhD: Dr. Ahmed Al Omran.
First Emirati to score Asian achievement in special need sports: Thuraya Ahmed Zaabi.
First policewoman: Salem Khamis Al Hamedh.