An unprecedented amount of public display and colour in the streets mark today's anniversary of the founding of the United Arab Emirates 37 years ago. All the activities, and the impromptu popular participation in them, are important symbols of how far the country has come since 1971.
In 1968, the British under Harold Wilson unilaterally announced their intention to depart from the Gulf, and they gave the surprised Gulf rulers only four years to prepare.
This abrupt move was a major test of political determination for the nascent Gulf states that two leaders in particular, late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and late Shaikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai, were able to meet with the support of their fellow rulers.
In the years that followed, they built the coherent population that characterises the UAE of the 21st century. In 1971, people did not travel between the emirates to a great degree, and maybe did not even like each other very much.
A large part of the work of the 37 years has been to educate the younger generation of UAE nationals in a unified system so they have grown up all their lives meeting fellow nationals from other emirates, building friendships across borders of the emirates. Today the UAE is a living single entity.
It is a mark of the growing maturity of the federation that the UAE is now tackling with confidence the new challenge of maintaining its national identity in the face of the large number of expatriates residing in the country.
2008 was declared the Year of National Identity, and started a process of reinforcing the cultural and social bonds that build the political awareness of patriotism and pride in the country. The colourful events happening today are part of that wider mission.
