Dear Colleagues and Fellow Engineers,
Peace, mercy and blessings of God
This year encounters a very special occasion that seems very precious for each citizen and resident.
It is Zayed year. Zayed is not just a name but is symbol for goodness and giving. May Allah forgive
our father, leader and teacher! In fact, he is the founder of our precious United Arab Emirates (UAE),
Sheikh/ Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, May Allah save his soul!
Let's begin our speech with a saying of our father, Zayed, who said "Development and
building do not merely rely onthose persons in charge only but needs consolidated efforts by each
and every citizen in our beloved country." In the light of such golden words, I would like firstly to
thank my colleagues, board members of Engineers Association in UAE as well as the association's
personnel for their efforts exerted in order to achieve association's vision, through providing the best
practices in engineering. Worth mentioning here Arab Fourth Conference for Tunnels held last year
in the Emirate of Dubai in the month of February, which was organized by the Association. Today, we
are to reach a new achievement, whereas Engineers Association in UAE shall, in cooperation with
International Tunnel Association (ITA), organize tunnels' global congress that will be held for the first
time in the Middle East. We are so proud of choosing the Emirate of Dubai to be the first station in
Middle East hosting such a great event.
Said congress shall include more than five hundred (500) working papers, more than three
hundred (300) global enterprises working in the field of digging tunnels and exploiting underground
spaces, in addition to selection (elite) of main spokespersons including experts and specialists in the
field of tunnel digging and underground spaces exploitation. We should value such efforts exerted by
all parties; so that our great event can achieve success. In addition, we need to admit governmental
support provided to Engineers Association in UAE, through governmental enterprises, bodies and
entities' participation in tunnels' global congress ­ Dubai, 2018 AD. Such participation reinforces the
significance of such an event. As a result, State of United Arab Emirates always remains leading in
all fields, thanks to its people's consolidated efforts and cooperation in all events.
You are invited to visit us on coming twentieth first (21) of April in tunnels' global congress,
being organized by Engineers'Association in UAE in cooperation with International TunnelAssociation
(ITA). We hope getting all desired benefits out of said congress; in order to serve the best interests of
our precious nation; through moving development forward, supporting and reinforcing sustainability
plan, so that our beloved Emirates can remain a role model ­ at all times ­ in all fields at world level.
Allah is the grantor of success
Eng. Dawoud A. Al Hajri
President of Society of Engineers - UAE

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