UAE | Government

Expats gear up for festive occasion

Emiratis and expatriates who came out in large numbers with their families to malls and parks yesterday said the National Day is a day to reflect on the past, to be proud of the country's achievements, and prepare for the goals.

  • By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 01:14 December 1, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • "I am equally proud of ... the progress made by the country in the last 36 years," says Rita Estephan.
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Dubai: Emiratis and expatriates who came out in large numbers with their families to malls and parks yesterday said the National Day is a day to reflect on the past, to be proud of the country's achievements, and prepare for the goals.

"Before the holidays began we had celebrations at our workplace. Expatriates joined Emirati colleagues and marked the day by setting up a traditional tent with UAE national flags all over the place. It was festive. The women applied henna. It was a lot of fun," said Fatima, an engineer with a Dubai-based company.

"I have been here for the last 10 years and my daughters were born here. The country has welcomed, taken us in, and provided us with a good living standard, a sense of security. ... it becomes our duty to join hands and celebrate with the people of the land," said Fatima, from Morroco.

Advocate Ahmad Al Kamali, secretary general of the UAE Athletic Federation and Chairman of the organising committee of the Dubai Marathon, said the National Day is a day to remember the founding fathers of the country and pay homage to the contributions made by them in the progress of the country.

'Grateful' to leaders

He said: "I still remember this day and feel glad that I belong to this soil."

Al Kamali, who was supervising an athletic meet on Friday, said his generation had received a lot from the country and its leaders.

Rita Estephan, a Lebanese banker from Dubai, said the essence of National Day is preserve and respect the history, culture and traditions of one's country. "I work with UAE nationals and I am equally proud of their individual achievements and that of the progress made by the country in the last 36 years."

This year will be Marilyn Bautista's first year to witness the National Day celebrations. She is a Filipina who works as a domestic help and have been in the UAE for just four months.

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