President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has congratulated the Government and people of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the occasion commemorating the 45^thIndependence Anniversary of that country on December 2, 2016.

The UAE National Day, also known as Al-Eid Al Watani, is celebrated annually on December 2, to commemorate the formal nationalization of the UAE from the British Protectorate Pact that expired on December 2, 1971.

The day is also observed as the signing of the Proclamation of Union and the subsequent, federal unification of the six sheikdoms – Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Dubai, Fujairah, Umm al-Qaiwain, and Ajman -  to form the modern-day nation called UAE. The federation initially consisted of six members, but February 1972, the UAE gained the seventh member when Ras al-Khaimah joined the federation.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, in her message to the President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, extended heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to the Government and people of the United Arab Emirates as they celebrate this historic occasion.

The Liberian leader said it is her fervent prayer that the bonds of friendship and cooperation so happily subsisting between their two countries in the spirit of Afro-Arab bilateral ties and cooperation will continue to expand for the mutual benefit of their two countries and peoples.

She prayed that the Almighty Allah will endow His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan with abundant wisdom and strength as he leads his people to greater heights.