The latest book by Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, “Reflections on Happiness & Positivity,” is an attempt to contribute toward transferring the UAE’s experience to the rest of the Arab world, to foster hope and development in the region.
“The political, religious and sectarian conflicts, economic downturns and social transformations that our Arab region is going through now make talk of positivity as the solution sound unattractive,” he wrote.
“But I would like to say to my Arab brothers, why not try to change our outlook on some things and be positive as we address challenges facing us, while keeping some optimism that would help sustain the new generations and achieve self-fulfilment?”
Islam considers making people happy one of the greatest acts. The famous 15th-century historian and thinker Ibn Khaldun believed that the purpose of a government is to achieve happiness. The US declaration of independence guarantees the right of every citizen to pursue happiness.
In 2012, the UN adopted Bhutan’s call for a holistic approach to development, known as Gross National Happiness (GNH). Since 1971, Bhutan has rejected gross domestic product (GDP) as the only measure of progress. The GNH is a set of policies based on the Gross National Happiness Index, which includes equitable social development, cultural preservation, environmental conservation and promotion of good governance.
The UAE appointed a minister for happiness in 2016, the year after the World Happiness Report revealed that the highest rate of youth depression and pessimism is in the Arab world. A number of studies show the savings a government can make when society is happy. When we think positively, challenges become opportunities. Most people see the desert as an austere land, but Sheikh Mohammed views it as a great national and economic treasure.
“If we had viewed it merely as a barren desert, a desolate expanse of sand and dunes, two decades ago, we would not be attracting more than 14 million tourists to our country each year in the present day. This desert around us is one of the fundamental resources we use to bolster tourism, strengthen the economy and create opportunities,” he wrote. Nowadays, tourists from all over the world visit Dubai to experience desert life.
Sheikh Mohammed is optimistic because he believes there is great potential in the Arab world. Managing a country’s economy requires skilful politicians with vision. Many people consider politics as something negative and dominated by selfish interests, but Sheikh Mohammed believes “you can accomplish a lot of good for people if you think about politics in a positive way.”
He added: “When we focus on commonalities, not differences, politics is positive. When we focus on what unites us rather than on what divides us, politics is positive. When we focus on ideas and interests and not on individuals, ethnic groups, races and religions, politics is positive. When the interests of the people are placed before party politics and partisanship, politics is positive. Everything depends on our vision and our ideas about politics.”
Amid challenging times in which the negative seems to dominate, it is so uplifting to read about Sheikh Mohammed, a visionary leader who yearns for the happiness of his subjects. Guided by a strong positive resolve, he has transformed Dubai into one of the world’s top business and tourist destinations.
Source: http://bit.ly/2vI8Iu7
