From the directives of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, the Emirates Traveler team derived its vision and goals, to work through 24 years to introduce the UAE, its culture and its achievements, and to be the ambassador of the homeland before the world.
The head and founder of "Emirates Traveler", Awad Mohammed bin Sheikh Mujren, stressed that the responsibility that the team held, was an incentive for it to overcome many challenges and difficulties in the trips it took. The good reputation of the Emirates, and the humanitarian work it is doing around the world, has contributed to overcoming many of the difficulties and critical situations they have gone through.
Awad bin Al Sheikh Mujren reviewed, during the evening, organized by the “Sea of Culture” Foundation, on the evening of yesterday, as part of a series of “travel bag” sessions, presented by Aida Al-Azdi, the journey of the Emirates Traveler team, since its establishment in 1996, to be the first team A group Gulf touring the world on road trips using four-wheel drive vehicles, explaining that during 24 years he had made nine long world trips that included 90 countries.
He added that the first trip of the team included five people, which took six months, and was in conjunction with the celebration of the silver jubilee of the establishment of the UAE, and the trip started from Abu Dhabi to Europe, and also included the Levant, North America, and other regions. The team's founder continued: “We were honored at that time to meet the late Sheikh Zayed in Switzerland, and the deceased supported us financially and morally, and we were directed to be ambassadors of our state, and to make sure in our trips to show the world how our country was, how it became, and what it achieved, what we achieved. This task is a great responsibility that we must preserve and cherish, as he directed the UAE embassies in various countries of the world to cooperate with us and facilitate our trips, at that time we felt proud and responsible, and since that time Sheikh Zayed’s directives, may God have mercy on him, became the main goal that we are working to achieve ».
Good planning
Awad bin Al-Sheikh Mujren pointed out that the mission of “Emirates’s traveler” was not easy, as there were many challenges and difficult and dangerous situations, but he was able to overcome them with insistence and solidarity, stressing the importance of the team members being characterized by understanding and harmony, and is always keen to include the team people They have multiple experiences.
He pointed out that good planning for the trip and its path, and choosing the appropriate timing, are among the most important reasons for success. It should also set a margin for obstacles and challenges that the team may be exposed to during the trip, and set up backup plans to deal with it.
In a comparison between the trips, past and present; Mejren explained that the trips 20 years ago were better in terms of security in the Arab countries, while some countries became less secure today, and in contrast, the communication has become better today than before, since publishing news about their trips in the past used to take approximately 10 days, while Currently publishing information and pictures at the same time on social media.
On the effect of Corona on the team's activity; He mentioned that in the coming period, they will focus on educating travelers on how to travel safely, and preparing a new book on the trips that have been implemented, and another on the Ramadha Festival, as part of the Emirates heritage.
Important stations
For his part, Arif Al-Suwaidi, Vice-Chairman of the Traveler Festival Committee and a member of the Emirates Traveler team, said that most of the team members who witnessed the beginnings studied abroad and were aiming to change the stereotype that prevailed in the West about the Middle East and the Arabs, as they live in tents, and everyone In front of his home is an oil well, indicating that the team initially faced difficulties in financing because many were not convinced of the idea, but after the success of the first trip and the support of the late Sheikh Zayed to them, the team found great support from various institutions and authorities in the state.
Al Suwaidi reviewed a number of important milestones in the “Emirates Traveler” march, stressing that the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and his constant urging of the UAE children to innovate and create, was a motivation for them to continue and provide proactive ideas, Among them is the climbing of the Kilimanjaro peak of beauty, which is the first of its kind in history, recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. He noted that the camels were chosen because of their association with the Arab and Emirati heritage, and the team also climbed with a group of young people, accompanied by a group of young people, to cultivate a culture of travel and exploration in them, where His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honored them.
Turning to the establishment of the World Traveler Festival in November 2012, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, to serve as the first gathering of travelers from all over the world, copies were also held in Shanghai and Milan, in addition to launching the Ramadan Challenge in 2016 It is derived from the Emirati heritage and the desert environment in the region, pointing to the great success achieved by the challenge, which was represented in the wide participation that he witnessed, as it was exported to Australia and resided there due to the presence of a vast desert in it.
Tolerance and coexistence
Aref Al-Suwaidi emphasized that the “Emirates’s traveler” and his humanistic journeys, in addition to its knowledge and exploratory nature, reflect the values of tolerance and coexistence that are a major part of the UAE’s approach, indicating that they have gone through positions that reflected the UAE’s good relations with all countries of the world, and its contributions Humanity and charity, as they were welcomed as soon as they knew that they were from the Emirates, and these relationships contributed to overcoming many difficulties on their way. He added that the team issued a book on its travels, and implemented three documentary films, in addition to providing many lectures and seminars in the UAE and abroad.
Awad bin Al-Sheikh Mujren:
"The words of the late Sheikh Zayed showed us the way, as we directed to explain to the world what our country was and how it became."
Aref Al-Suwaidi:
"The team sought to change the image that was prevalent of the Arabs as they live in tents, and in front of everyone's home is an oil well."