Abu Dhabi -- President Sheikh Mohamed has hailed Eid Al Etihad as a “defining chapter” in the UAE's success story – and urged Emiratis to be at the heart of efforts to write the country's future.

The UAE leader said the anniversary of the nation's founding – marked on December 2 each year – served not only as an opportunity to celebrate its rich history but to deliver a road map for progress.

In a wide-ranging address on the eve of National Day, also known as Eid Al Etihad, he spoke of how family stability and investment in future generations would be crucial to the UAE's continued rise on the global stage.

He said the Emirates was building on the firm foundations laid by the country's first president, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and fulfilling his vision for a nation that epitomises “excellence, progress, and a far-reaching sense of purpose”.