If you have used social media recently you may have seen posts with a certificate that is personalized and has text relating to the UAE. The posts usually say “Free Certificate” or “Claim your Reward” and may say something about cash or a visa.
This posting will explain the certificates and cash rewards, if any.
First, the UAE Pledge is free and doesn’t take long to complete. Cash rewards are nothing but a joke.
What Is the “Pledge and Commitment” Program?
The “Pledge and Commitment” program allows people to electronically sign a document to show their support for the UAE and its leadership. People can also use the document to show gratitude for the country and to affirm their desire to peacefully coexist with other citizens.
Children ages 7 and up may also sign the Pledge.
After people sign the Pledge, they are given a certificate to keep. The certificate is in digital form and is printed with the person’s name.
Why is it Called a “Saudia” Pledge?
Many people call the UAE Pledge the “Saudia” Pledge because the name of the airline, Saudia, is printed on the certificate. This is likely because the airline and the UAE government are partners and sponsors of the Pledge program.
What is the Content of the Pledge?
There are just a few sentences in the pledge. It requests:
- UAE loyalty and recognition of UAE leadership
- Residence in and approach to others to encourage peace
- Teaching and promoting UAE principles to children and grandchildren
No laws are enacted in conjunction with the pledge and it does not require the surrender of any right. It is more of a polite recognition and appreciation, similar to thanking officials.
Who Is Eligible?
Nominations are open to all UAE citizens and residents and there are no limits based on race or ethnicity. The lower limits are business people, employees and students.
A few additional points are as follows:
- Families can make a single joint nomination and 10 members of a family can be included in the nomination.
- Children of any age can also be included in the nomination.
- This program is for individuals living in UAE.
- The program is in multiple languages and therefore, people of all nationalities can understand and participate in the program.
How to Sign the Pledge
It takes less than 10 minutes to complete the process. Follow the steps below.
- Go to pledge.ae. This is the only official site. Signing the pledge on fraudulent sites will not work.
- Select your preferred language.
- Read the pledge.
- Write your name the way you want it to appear on your pledge certificate.
- Add your email.
- Add your family members up to a total of 10.
- Click “Participate with Pride.”
- Your certificate will be generated. You will be given the option to download a standard certificate in portrait or landscape mode, and a certificate in a format suitable to be posted on social media.
What do you get for signing the pledge?
You get a few things. Most important is that you get a memento with your name and a message thanking you for your participation. Some people post theirs on social media. Others, especially people who live abroad, give theirs to their relatives who live in the UAE.
Signing the pledge gives you the chance to express your appreciation to the people of UAE for the opportunity to live and work there. Most people who work and live in UAE consider it a home away from home.
The format of the document is perfectly geared towards instant sharing on Instagram and WhatsApp. This may explain its mass online adoption.
It might be worth a mention on your resume or LinkedIn to show commitment to volunteering and community service. However, it is unlikely that the certificate will be of great value in any employment context.
What the Certificate Will Not Do
There are many myths surrounding the certificate, and this is where the confusion begins. Below is the truth and myths about the certificate in list form.
The certificate will not
- Provide you with employment, extension of employment or sponsorship.
- Help in the process of acquiring a Golden Sponsor License.
- Be used as an alternative to a government birth/baptismal/marriage/death certificate.
- Affect your Emirates ID.
- Result in a salary increase or additional benefits.
- Act as evidence in court.
- Be used to open a bank account, rent a house or employer/landlord/insurance benefit.
- Provide you with cash.
Only fraudsters will give you the above assurances.
Will There Be a Cash Prize?
Currently, there is no communications channels through which the UAE government communicates with its people that assures the people of the UAE of a cash prize for endorsing the pledge.
Myths and lies abound. People post about 1,000 AED, 5,000 AED and even 100,000 AED cash prizes. Lying is evident by the inconsistencies in people’s claims.
What gives? The certificate is real. The program is legitimate. Folks can (and should) confirm that for themselves. The problem is scammers can easily create a reward, and because the certificate program is validated and legitimate, scammers can exploit people’s trust.
Money is given for signing? Exactly where is it that people expect to obtain cash for digitally signing?
Here are some tips to help you identify a trust fund link.
- Always use the provided official URL (pledge.ae) to access the site. Do not use any links that you have not independently verified.
- Do not pay. The certificate and pledge are absolutely free.
- Do not provide your Emirates ID or personal banking information.
- Bewary of reward claiming pages.
- Verify news stories about the pledge program from legitimate news sites.
While designing a site to look like another can be easy, remember that trusted sites will always have trusted addresses. Always check the address bar.
What About the “Saudia” Part?
No official documents or information indicate that there is a Saudi version of the UAE pledge and commitment certificate. The UAE pledge and commitment campaign is an initiative of the UAE, and is administered by UAE Institutions and organizations, to residents of the UAE.
While there is a broad use of the terms pledge and commitment in Saudi Arabia, they are used in a different context from the UAE pledge and commitment campaign.
Pledge Registration
In Saudi Arabia, an applicant pledges an asset or shares in a company, to guarantee a loan. This is documented by the Saudi Arabian Government, and a pledge certificate issued. This is an important document in the field of finance. To be eligible, an individual must be a resident company or person. Fees are payable, and new registrations are reported to cost about SAR 200.
Certificate of Commitment
A “Certificate of Commitment” is also issued by other Saudi Arabian Government Authorities, including GOSI. A retiree may obtain this to support a Bank request to transfer a retirement benefit, or take out a loan. Likewise, a company may obtain this to support a request for bid bond or other compliance bond.
The UAE documents are mementos from the UAE. The Saudi documents are formal/legal/financial papers that don’t come for free. Visit the appropriate Saudi government website to access them, or contact your bank.
Is it worth getting?
It’s fun and quick to do, especially if you’re Emirati and Emirates-proud.
It won’t get you money or a boosted visa, etc. Avoid sites that make these false promises.
Most say it’s a sweet, small thing to do.
Before you sign, here are some tips
- Double check the spelling of your name.
- You only need to provide your email address.
- You can save both the fillable document and the generated story.
- Email/upload the doc to yourself, or store it in the cloud.
- A family group member can submit the form. It’s a sweet thing to do with relatives.
- Do not click “reward” links that your friends post. Explain to them that they are falsifing rewards.
General Questions
Is there a cost for participating in this pledge drive?
Participation and downloading the pledge certificate is free.
Am I required to be a UAE citizen to participate?
All citizens and residents are welcome to participate.
Is the pledge certificate legal or official?
The certificate is symbolic and legal/official procedures will not be affected by it.
Will taking the pledge impact my visa/Golden Visa process?
No. Taking the pledge will not impact your visa process.
Am I allowed to take the pledge for my children and parents?
Yes. You can take the pledge for up to 10 relatives.
Am I allowed to take the pledge if I am living in Saudi Arabia?
This pledge drive is only for UAE residents. A similar pledge for Saudi residents is not available.
Will I receive monetary benefits or rewards for taking the pledge?
The UAE Pledge and Commitment Certificate is another positive development. It is a free and easy way for members of the public to express their appreciation to the country that has provided them an environment to thrive. The process is straightforward. You just need to sign and upload the document.
It is important to set expectations. The certificate is just a keepsake and will not fast track any process. The cash rewards being shared widely on social media are invented. The same applies to the claims on the existence of a parallel process to the Pledge and Commitment Certificate in Saudi Arabia.
The Certificate is available at pledge.ae at no cost. It is advisable to ignore anyone charging a fee and/or promising cash rewards.
Additional edits to the webpages covering this development to add a title and description meta tags and an FAQ schema are also enclosed for your consideration.
Hi, this is a comment.
To get started with moderating, editing, and deleting comments, please visit the Comments screen in the dashboard.
Commenter avatars come from Gravatar.