This book is the outcome of a journey through Emirati poetry on citizenship, tracing the ways in which the values of belonging, loyalty, identity and responsibility are woven into poetic expression and have become an active force in shaping national consciousness, safeguarding collective memory, and accompanying the civilisational development of the United Arab Emirates. Close readings of these poems reveal the contribution of Emirati poetry to deepening awareness and articulating a coherent set of values that has made citizenship a continually renewed cultural, ethical and aesthetic experience, one that has accompanied the journey of the Union and the building of the state. I take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, may God protect him, in recognition of his generous patronage of knowledge and culture, and in admiration of his vision, which places human development at the heart of national advancement and sustainable development. I also recall, with profound loyalty and gratitude, the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God have mercy on him, founder of the United Arab Emirates and architect of its Union. He laid the foundations of the state and instilled the values of wisdom, generosity and tolerance. His life and legacy have become a beacon guiding successive generations, while his principles remain an enduring foundation of the UAE’s progress and achievements.