Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Wednesday ordered the construction of a memorial in Dubai in memory of the UAE’s fallen soldiers.
The memorial, which is set to open for Commemoration Day on November 30 next year, follows the opening of a similar tribute in Abu Dhabi, he said in a tweet.
“Commemorating Emirati martyrs depicts perpetuation of the strength and sacrifices of the people of the UAE. And we are not afraid to give our most cherished sons for the sake of the most precious thing we have – the homeland,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“The blood of our martyrs will be preserved, memory elevated, and their sacrifices remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.
“Across the country, the UAE martyrs’ banners will rise. Our first martyrs’ monument is in the capital, located near the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, where the tomb of the UAE’s founding father lies peacefully,” he added.
It was announced earlier this week that the memorial site created to honour the UAE’s fallen soldiers in the UAE capital would be named Wahat Al Karama (Oasis of Dignity).
The site covers an area of 46,000 square metres, symbolically located between the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the General Headquarters of the UAE Armed Forces. It is open to the public 24 hours a day.
The site includes the Memorial Plaza, a large open area of over 4,000 square metres which will host the annual Commemoration Day ceremony.
A circular pool of water, 15mm deep, occupies the centre of the Memorial Plaza. The pool provides a unique reflection of the Mosque and also the Memorial’s 31 aluminium-clad panels.
On Tuesday, Sheikh Mohammed, also Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, said that the Commemoration Day is a time to “remember our brothers and sons that paid with their bloods and protected the country”.