UAE President Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued Federal Law No.6 for the Year 2014, on the national military service and reserve force. The law is in accordance with the principles of the UAE Constitution, as referred to in Article No. 43, which states that defending the Union is a sacred duty of every citizen and national service is an honour for citizens as per the law.
The law aims to instill values of loyalty and sacrifice in the hearts of the citizens, linking them with the teachings of religion and the socialisation of different generations in terms of leadership characteristics, physical power and self-reliance, responsibility and discipline, respect of law, and time. National service would further consolidate and develop youth through scientific and practical training.
According to the law, published in the latest issue of the UAE Official Gazette, the establishment of the National and Reserve Service Authority at the General Headquarters of the Armed Forces has been endorsed. It will be the higher authority to oversee matters relating to national service, which is compulsory for all male citizens aged between 18 to 30 from the date of issuance of the law. Those under this category should be medically fit.