Dubai: Thousands of people gathered in Downtown Dubai on Sunday to witness "The Happiest Nation" event for the 42nd UAE national day celebrations.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai attended the event along with Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Makoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister.
The event, which took place at a stage set up in Burj Park, started with Shaikh Mohammad honouring the team that worked on Expo 2020, followed by the “Happiest Nation” operette.
The operette started with a choreographed sketch and a video that symbolised the different UAE enviroments: coastal, agricultural, mountain and Bedouin and how they all came together for the union.
The video then went on to showcase some of the achievement of the UAE, then names of notable emirate personalities were displayed.
Mohammad Saeed Harib, creator and producer of popular Emirati cartoon “Freej”, directed the operette.
Harib told Gulf News that there were almost 500 people involved in the making of this show and it has taken seven months to complete.
“We wanted to do something different this year. Most of the time people just watch the show, but are not part of it. This time we wanted the people to be part of the celebration, that is why the people were in the stage to show that they are the happiest nation– the people were the celebration,” Harib added.
Emirati Olympic athletes who won in previous Olympics and the UAE football team that qualified for the 1990 world cup also made an appearance.
A video showing Emiratis and expats declaring that they are from the happiest nation was also showed.
The operette ended with traditional Emirati dance, the Dubai Mall fountain dancing to the national anthem and fireworks.
Salim Mannarkandy, 34, from India said that he took his family to watch the show. “The show was fantastic. We really enjoyed the it and it was very interesting,” Mannarkandy said.
He said that he was really happy for the UAE’s national day, and that it was his first time to attend national day celebrations.
Emirati Amna Al Kindi, 21, said that her feelings of pride and happiness were indescribable and that she has chosen to get married on National Day, December 2.
