United Arab Emirates celebrates 50th anniversary of National Flag Day

Every November 3, the United Arab Emirates commemorates the anniversary of the holiday set by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, who came up with the idea of making this day the day designated to enhance patriotic values and the feeling of pride and affection for the country. This year, 2021, also marks the Golden Jubilee of the holiday, which commemorates the fact that Sheikh Zayed bin al-Nahyan put up the country's first flag in 1971, thus unifying all the territories that are now part of the state. Sheikh Mohammed tweeted last week to encourage the population to join in highlighting the country's values.

"We call on our citizens, organisations and ministries to raise the flag simultaneously on 3 November at 11:00 am in order to express the unity of our home and our destiny," the president said via Twitter.  Since 2013, this moment has been celebrated when both companies, businesses, schools and others, as well as the population itself, raise the nation's flag at 11:00 hours in the morning. It also coincides with the swearing in of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan in 2004. 

Although it is not a public holiday there, it is an obligation on the part of all citizens to perform this oath. Mohamed Jalal al-Rayssi, director general of the Emirates News Agency (WAM) made a speech and emphasised that this day is a special day celebrating five decades of achievements and stakes and continuous evolution. "Today, we proudly raise our glorious flag and strengthen our resolve to hold it high, as a symbol of our identity, sovereignty and unity and an outline of our achievements and aspirations for the future," said Al-Rayssi.

This year, due to the pandemic caused by the coronavirus, the authorities have called through communiqués and social media for citizens to celebrate Flag Day in a calm manner, to ensure the health of all and recommend choosing a safe place to hang the flag and taking precautions to avoid falls, hazards or loss of material.

Citizens are also obliged to fly the flag in a special way that is established by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology. This entity states that the flag, when flown, must have a rectangular shape, its height must be half its width and the colours must be in the correct order in which they are represented. This code, if not complied with, can mean fines and prison sentences of up to six months for those who do not respect the flag and its meaning within its territory, as it must be treated with dignity and respect. The code also stipulates that one may not publicly insult the president, the flag or the emblem of the state, and that one will be arrested in this case.

The flag of the United Arab Emirates speaks of the country's own history, and how it is represented. All the colours that make up the flag have an important role and meaning, symbolising the dignity, peace, pride and success of the nation. The flag is made up of three stripes: a green, a white and a black stripe placed horizontally; and a red stripe, placed vertically. The green stripe symbolises the country's natural and agricultural resources and indicates prosperity and wealth. It also signifies the power of Islam and the importance of religion there. The white stripe symbolises peace in the world and in the Emirate itself. The black stripe signifies the strength and honour of the country, showing power and courage, as well as symbolising the main wealth of the territory: oil, which has been the most important thing in the development and formation of the region. And finally, the red stripe is the representation of the union of all the citizens of the country through courage, resistance and the progress of the evolution of the nation until today.