'My commitment to this land is absolute': Residents on why they signed UAE's Pledge and Commitment initiative

Dubai: When some UAE residents signed the UAE's Pledge and Commitment initiative, they say it reminded them of how the country has been the place where they crossed many milestones in their lives - from first jobs, to starting a family, to turning long-held ambitions into reality.As thousands of residents continue to participate in the initiative, many say it has prompted them to look back on the journeys that turned the UAE from a place they arrived in to a stable home.The Pledge and Commitment initiative was launched by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence to allow the UAE's community to express their appreciation for the leadership of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his role in strengthening national security, social cohesion and stability.Some residents who spoke to Emirates 24|7 said that signing the pledge was a way of acknowledging the role the UAE has played in some of the most important moments of their lives.Also read:UAE Pledge and Commitment initiative: The message behind the certificate flooding social media‘This country became home’: Why UAE residents are signing the national Pledge and Commitment initiativeA career, a family, a homeIndian expatriate Marwa Hussain, a 37-year-old aeronautical engineer, arrived in Abu Dhabi in 2014 and later moved to Dubai.She said settling into life in the UAE felt natural from the very beginning.“The UAE has always felt like a natural home to me. Growing up in Saudi Arabia as an Indian, I was always part of a region that celebrates diversity and warmth, so when I moved to Abu Dhabi in 2014, settling in felt effortless,” she said.Over the past decade, she has built both a successful career and a family life in the country.“As an aeronautical engineer, I have had the privilege of building a career here that I am truly proud of. But beyond the professional journey, it is the life we have built here as a family that means the most,” she said.“My husband and our daughter call this home, and so do I. Ten years on, UAE is not just where I live, it is where I belong.”Hussain said signing the pledge felt like a natural expression of gratitude.“It is my way of saying thank you to a country that has given our family so much love, opportunity, and a place to grow.”Turning dreams into realityTurkish entrepreneur Salih Dinc, 36, has spent the past 13 years in the UAE and looking back, he said many of life's defining moments happened here.“The UAE is much more than the place where I live,” he said.“It is the country where I built my life, got married, bought my first car, started my first business and where my children were born. The UAE provided opportunities, safety, stability, and an environment where hard work is rewarded,” he said.He ensured that his digital marketing agency Abrash Solutions was also part of the UAE pledge, signing on as a company, to celebrate the country's support for business growth.Growing alongside the nationAnother UAE resident, Pakistani banking professional Talha Akbar, 39, said his personal journey has been closely intertwined with the UAE's own development.“From youth to maturity, mine and my beloved family's life has been deeply interwoven with the fabric of this beautiful nation,” he said.Akbar said he has witnessed the country's progress firsthand while building his own life and career.“As the United Arab Emirates progressed, I grew alongside it and my commitment to this land is absolute. Having stood together through every challenge and triumph, my loyalty remains unshakable and it will be growing stronger and deeper with each passing day,” he said.“May this beautiful country and the leadership flourish,” he added.