Nation celebrates Flag Day
▶ At home and abroad, Flag Day was celebrated with joy and pride, finds Anna Zacharias
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, with his daughter Sheikha Al Jalila at the flag-raising at Union House in Dubai. Similar ceremonies were held across the UAE – and the world – to celebrate Flag Day, the anniversary of President Sheikh Khalifa’s accession.
Whether it was a small flag on the desk or banners draped across towers, thousands across the country raised the national colours in honour of the accession of Sheikh Khalifa as President.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, shared photos of himself and his daughter Sheikha Al Jalila bint Mohammed raising the UAE flag with children at Union Hous.
“Our Emirati flag is the symbol of our union and strength, it is the pride of our parents and our children, under it’s banner we continue the march of progress and by raising it, our young people build the future,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, tweeted: “The flag of the Emirates, a symbol of our unity, our meaning and our strength, will remain aloft, from which we draw the value of sacrifice, building and work.”
Dubai Media Office shared an Instagram post from Princess Haya of Jordan, wife of the Vice President, of their daughter Sheikha Al Jalila with a caption reading: “Raise the flag high, so it may remain high.”
Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, attended the ceremony on Flag Island under the theme, “The UAE of Giving and Generosity”.
“All of the people of the UAE united behind our flag on this day is symbolic of our national values and determination to keep our country leading regionally and internationally,” Sheikh Sultan said.
Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, spoke at a ceremony on Al Qasimi Corniche, and said that the flag represented unity, identity and belonging to all the people of the country. RAK Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud was also present.
Sheikh Saud bin Rashid
Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, attended celebrations at Al Khor Park, accompanied by the emirate’s Crown Prince, Sheikh Rashid bin Saud and other dignitaries and students.
Sheikh Saud said Flag Day celebrations showed the sincere feelings of the people for the country’s leadership, highlighting the ties of unity, peace, love and honour between them.
Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman, led celebrations at the Ruler’s Court near the Ajman Corniche. The flagpole was built for the occasion.
Flag day celebrations were also marked this year at the UAE Embassy in New Zealand, where the flag was hoisted over the Wellington skyline.
As the sun rose over Abu Dhabi, the National Anthem sounded across building sites and in apartment lobbies as people made their way to work.
In Khalidiya, men checked flagpoles early in the morning and practised for ceremonies later in the day. Government offices were filled with balloons.
Some men brought canes to work, ready to join in with professional troupes of yola dancers to mark the celebrations.
At 11am, employees and pupils filed outside to watch the country’s flag be hoisted.
The hashtag #UAEFlagDay was trending on Twitter with tolerance, inclusion and love the most cited values by users.
Dr Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, tweeted a short animation that told the story of the UAE flag by its creator, Abdulla Al Maainah.
“Happy Flag Day to the people of the UAE, a day to celebrate our unity, our love for our country, our dreams for a better future,” Khalid Al Ameri tweeted.
Greetings poured in from Emiratis and well wishers around the world.
Khalaf Al Habtoor, founding chairman of Al Habtoor Group, posted video of the flag-raising ceremony from his London home.