Emirati social media recently focused on a Ras al-Khaimah resident who complained about the high prices through a local radio. The presenter interrupted the citizen, thinking that he defamed the good image of the UAE. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, invited the citizen to attend a UAE Cabinet meeting.
The reaction of the broadcaster provoked reactions. But it revealed the nature of the relationship between the leadership and the people in the UAE. His Highness, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ordered to immediately fulfil the needs of the citizen within 24 hours. He urged the Minister of Social Development to set a plan to help citizens with low-income. The Emirati citizen will attend the Cabinet meeting that will discuss the plan. After he mocked the citizen, Ajman ruler ordered to suspend the broadcaster from working at the radio station.
These humanitarian steps reveal one of the most important features of the Emirati leadership. Listening to the needs and demands of citizens is a priority. The Emirati leadership strives to keep its citizens happy and does what it takes to achieve this goal.
The Emirati leadership follows the footsteps of the founding leader, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The leadership is aware that not only international reports but also the satisfaction of its citizens’ needs proves its success. The UAE hosts more than 200 nationalities on its territory and works on their welfare. The wise leadership won’t hesitate to listen to its citizens’ complaint about the high prices.
His Highness’ proactive reaction to Al Mazrouei’s complaints reflects the approach and principles the leadership has inherited from the founding leader.
The presenter of the program wrongly responded to the citizen’s point of view. The media is a channel of communication between the people and their leadership. Citizens have the right to complain about the high prices and ask for housing suitability. The complaint reflected a general crisis in the role of institutions concerned in communication with the low-income citizens. The existence of low-income people within affluent societies is not a shame.
The Emirati media should understand and comply with the wise approach of the leadership. The leadership in the UAE considers the media to be a strategic partner in the development process. The Emirati media should take responsibility in this cooperation and make the citizens’ voice voiced. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stressed the importance of media to serve citizens and to fulfil its mission to establish stability and a decent life in the UAE.
Having citizens with low-income is not a shame. But the absence of a media that voices these citizens is shameful. As governments in the world cannot be aware of the needs of all citizens, the crucial role of media is to convey citizens’ messages to the leadership.
A successful State immediately responds to its citizens’ complaint. Such factors positively prove the wise approach of the leadership.
“Media is a partner in the development process,” said Sheikh Mohammed. Media is society’s eye that perceives the reality surrounding it, he added in an Emirati media meeting. He also confirmed that clarity is the key to a successful media. His Highness’ messages stressed the value of media in supporting the development process in the UAE. Media should get rid of traditional thoughts. Complaints must be highlighted through media so that citizens feel the strong ties with their media. Citizens can convey their messages through social media. Thus Emirati official media must fulfil the mission of transmitting citizens’ needs to the government. Live broadcasts in the Emirati media are a model of the local effective media. It is a means to keep strong ties between the people and their leadership.
His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum addressed his government saying that “a government job is a full life in the service of the people”. “A group of men devoted themselves and their lives to their country. We are part of one team unified by a single vision and a noble goal, to serve the people of the UAE,” he said. Media has to convey the true image to ease the job of the government in serving the Emirati citizens.
The wise Emirati leadership proves to be a strong development model. The Emirati leadership is a model of the relationship between the people and the leadership.
