UAE to celebrate 49th National Day in Abu Dhabi

Leaders of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday congratulated the Emirati people as the country is set to mark its 49th National Day just one year before the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Gulf country.

Thus, Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, members of the Supreme Council and rulers of the rest of the emirates and the respective Crown Princes attended the official celebrations in the country's capital for the 49th National Day.  

Held under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the celebrations unfolded at Al Jubail Mangrove Park in Abu Dhabi, under the theme "Seeds of the Union". In this year marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people in the seven emirates, and elsewhere, witnessed the spectacular celebrations from their homes.  

Allusions to hope and optimism were developed in a high-profile audiovisual show. The entire production centred on a 15-metre high rotating cube sculpture (the equivalent of a five-storey building with four designs engraved on its faces), which played the role of the show's narrator; illuminated by digital visuals, surrounded by pyrotechnic effects and drones, and appeared to float on the sea.  

According to the Emirates' official news agency, WAM, Broadcast live, the 'Seeds of the Union' show paid a moving tribute to the UAE’s Founding Fathers, whose long-term vision of harmony and solidarity led to the formal unification of the UAE, and to the frontline workers who have risked their lives to protect the nation from the coronavirus health crisis.  

Members of the public participated in the celebrations, as recordings of anonymous people singing the UAE national anthem were incorporated into the production. The production was designed by a team of Emiratis and artistic director Es Devlin, known for creating large-scale performative sculptures and environments that fuse music, language and light.

The title given to the event was 'Seeds of the Union', representing the growth of the UAE from a seed in its formation on 2 December 1971 to its full bloom 49 years later. The values that have guided the UAE since its inception were also showcased: determination, optimism, unity, ambition, wisdom, persistence and unity.