Dear colleagues,
Through the glory and wise leadership of His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab
Emirates, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of
Dubai, and their brothers, the Rulers of Emirates, we celebrate the 42nd National day. We reflect on the spirit that ties us together,
the Spirit of the Union that enables millions of people to coexist and build lives together, which is derived from the vision and
leadership of the Late His Highness Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and lives now.
On behalf of the Society of Engineers-UAE, I would like to congratulate you on the 42nd celebration of UAE National Day. As His
Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan said "Celebrating the 42nd National Day is magnified by the Expo 2020 win", this is
one of the historical moments in our lives and in the lives of those who made it come to reality. We couldn't be excited to have made it
this far hadn't it been for the wise leadership and future acumen of a man whose leadership and compassion had marked in the
hearts of many people. Since the United Arab Emirates was established, progress has been so fast to what had been almost
unimaginable few decades ago.
Only someone with extraordinary vision conceived the possibilities of such changes ­ let alone to have worked to see them come true.
The people of UAE have been fortunate to have such a man as leader and a father to every Emirati; the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan
Al Nahyan. With His key note `unity', the United Arab Emirates is the home of expats from all over the world living in unity and
harmony, looking forward to host Expo 2020, with a harmonious and high-spirited mood. On this occasion Society of Engineers-
UAE promises to work co-operatively for the best future.
Society of Engineers-UAE is playing a leading role all over UAE with the guidance, support and insight of the government. The
Society sponsored the first tunneling conference in the Middle East and Africa. The event titled as "The First Arabian Tunneling
Conference and Exhibition to focus on the Sustainable Use of Underground Space" which was held on 10th to 11th December, 2013
in coordination with International Tunneling and Underground Space Association (ITA), created a wider exposure and knowledge
as 70 experts in the field, students from universities and more than 30 companies participated in the two day conference.
With the increasing population, we are working on the best way to create conducive and sustainable city in the world through the use
of underground space. We live in a world of engineering from planning to carry out services in order to provide a variety of services
and use the underground space -- through micro tunnelling -- while maintaining the environment's sustainability towards the
achievements of future smart cities. The use of advanced IT technology in tunnelling acts as a solution for the preservation of the
environment and architectural areas and heritage.
The World Expo in Dubai 2020 would be the first to be held in the MENASA (Middle East, North Africa and South Asia) region
where unity of the nation and its harmony will still be reflected till the end of time. As the city grows into a mega-city to host for Expo
2020, Society of Engineers is creating a conducive environment for this generation and the generations to come. Expo 2020
enlightens us with the message that we have to carry out. As the global community faces ever more complex, and increasingly
interconnected challenges, the links between people, societies and ideas have never been more important. Dubai Expo 2020 will be a
platform for connectivity to help pioneer new partnerships for growth and sustainability for the future.
We are honoured to share the work of so many committed and thoughtful people here in the World of Engineering magazine. As we
look forward to the coming of the New Year 2014, and look back on our progresses held in the past, we promise to work on high level
standards, targeting on the expected outcomes and achievements in double folds as it had been this year.
Finally I would like to give my sincere gratitude to all staff members of Society of Engineers ­ UAE, and the editorial board and all
those who contributed their invaluable minds and efforts, who spared their time to make this magazine a success. Have a nice
reading.
Eng. Essa Al Maidoor
President of Society of Engineers - UAE

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