Yesterday HH Sheikh Mohammed, Vice President of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, broke the fast alongside the Emirati men who have been conscripted and are currently serving in the armed forces.

Joined by his son and the Crown Prince of Dubai Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Mohammed ate iftar with the soldiers at the national service school, which is in the Saih Hafeer area on the Abu Dhabi-Dubai Road.

This comes just a few weeks after the UAE announced that the war in Yemen will soon be over for UAE troops, but that the Emirates will continue to support the rebuilding of the country.

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 “I recall the first days of the formation of our armed forces 44 years ago by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,” Sheikh Mohammed said while sitting with the soldiers.

“Now President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is the Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi is the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. We are all soldiers. I served in the Army,” WAM reports Sheikh Mohammed to have said.

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“Those states or individuals who doubted that our Union would not withstand challenges and that we would not build an organised capable and modern army, now believe beyond the shadow of doubt that we did it, thanks to the policies of Sheikh Zayed sustained by Sheikh Khalifa,” he added.

He stressed that the strong armed forces in the UAE are essential in order to “safeguard peace, protect borders and sovereignty”.

Sheikh Mohammed also performed the Magreb prayer with the soldiers.

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As for the war in Yemen being over for UAE troops, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash has said: “Our standpoint is clear: war is over for our troops. We are monitoring political arrangements, empowering Yemenis in liberated areas.”

Sheikh Mohammed’s son, Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed served served in the UAE army during the Yemen conflict. Here he is late last year (pictured right):

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A photo posted by Mansoor bin Mohammed Almaktoum (@mansoorbinmohammed) on

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Photos: Dubai Media Office & SheikhMohammed.ae