UAE Flag Day celebrations: ‘Long Live the Emirates, long live our country’

Dubai: People stood united around the nation’s flag at 12 noon on Wednesday and chanted: Safety and security forever, long live our flag in the UAE. Government agencies displayed the UAE flag in a show of national unity and as a response to the call made by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, urging the public to express their patriotism through the Flag Day campaign, honouring the anniversary of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s accession as president.

Shaikh Mohammad stood in the first row around the UAE’s Union House (Dar Al Ittihad) where the founding fathers of the UAE stood more than 42 years ago, announcing the flag of unity as a representative of all the nation’s people.

Shaikh Mohammad, who was accompanied by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Shaikh Maktoum Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, said, “We hereby renew our vow to the people of the UAE for their service and prosperity. We also renew our devotion to the soil and flag of this country and to enhance its status.”

Shaikh Mohammad talked to children who had gathered around him saying: “Long Live the Emirates, long live our country.”

Shaikh Mohammad added that the flag is a trust that was delivered to us by the country’s founding fathers, and it is a trust in the hands of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his hands and the hands of every UAE national and the generations to come, to preserve it and enhance its gains.

Shaikh Mohammad renewed his vow to give everything for the sake of holding the nation’s flag high and providing a decent and prosperous life for the country’s people. He added that “our prayers will always be for safety and security forever, and we ask Allah to forever bestow upon us His grace and bounty”.

Shaikh Mohammad and a number of students watered the Ittihad (Union) tree that he planted a year ago, He told them: “We vowed to work in all sincerity for our country, and as long as we live we will remain true to it. All nationals in their work, studies, or camps are soldiers of this nation.”

He added that this country gathers us together, unites us, and urges us to make each day better than the day before and every year better than the previous year and for every achievement to be greater, better and more beautiful continuously.

Shaikh Mohammad also commented on the national and popular interaction to the Flag Day campaign, saying that the people’s reaction was heartening. He also pointed out that the emotions expressed by the country’s children is a great indicator of the future of the country and that the Flag Day campaign will continue until December 2.

He added, “We united the timing for raising the flag to tell everyone that we are not a group of emirates but rather we are the UAE and to instil in the coming generations the fact that our flag is the symbol of our respect for our nation.”

Shaikh Mohammad affirmed that “our feelings and sentiments have not changed since the establishment of the UAE, rather, they have become stronger and more stable. We are proud to see these very sentiments in our children, the children of the UAE, motivate them and urge them further for giving and achieving in all areas.”

The celebration was also attended by Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, and other senior officials.

In Umm Al Quwain, His Highness Shaikh Saud Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, expressed his pride in Shaikh Khalifa’s wise leadership and the solidarity and unity of UAE nationals.

Shaikh Saud who celebrated Flag Day by raising the UAE flag at the Rulers Court’s courtyard said that flying the flag high on this glorious day in response to Shaikh Mohammad’s campaign on the occasion of Shaikh Khalifa’s accession as president embodies the country’s unity and is a true expression for the people’s sentiments and devotion towards their wise leadership.

The ceremony was also attended by Shaikh Khalid Bin Rashid Al Mualla, the Ruler Court’s Head, Shaikh Saif Bin Rashid Al Mualla, Head of the Economic Development Department in Umm Al Quwain, and other shaikhs and senior officials.

In Abu Dhabi, Lt Gen Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, said that the first day the UAE flag was raised in December 2, 1971 by Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers, all of whom founded this country, is like the day of truth which affirms the birth of a nation and its people marching onward under the flag to achieve advancement and prosperity.

During the Flag Day celebration where the UAE flag was raised high over the ministry of interior’s building, he added that the campaign initiated by Shaikh Mohammad represents a highly sentimental moment and an ever renewed vow to express devotion and loyalty to the nation and its wise leadership.

The ministry was also keen on the participation of huge numbers of students to relive the precious moment of solidarity and pride around the UAE’s flag.

The celebration was also attended by Major General Nasser Lakhraibani Al Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior’s Office, and other senior officials.

Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, yesterday raised the UAE flag at the premises of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the attendance of all employees, in response to a call made by Shaikh Mohammad for all federal ministries and institutions to fly the UAE flag as a symbol of unity throughout the country.

In a statement on the occasion, Shaikh Abdullah said: “It is my great pleasure to participate with you and with the government and the people of the UAE in the joy of flying the national flag aloft on every entity and house as a symbol of belonging to the UAE and in recognition of the high esteem in which it is held in the hearts of UAE citizens.”

He expressed his pleasure at the overwhelming response to the flag day celebrations which, he said, shows how proud UAE citizens are of belonging to their homeland under the leadership of Shaikh Khalifa, a national symbol and a loyal leader for both the nation and its people.

Shaikh Abdullah concluded by saying that Flag Day is a national occasion which makes all across the country proud, and provides an opportunity for expressing the feelings of loyalty that the UAE people harbour for their homeland and their leader Shaikh Khalifa.

In Al Ain, Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler`s Representative in the Eastern Region, hoisted the UAE flag at his Court in Al Ain.

Shaikh Tahnoun expressed his happiness on this national occasion, which is dear to the heart of every citizen, praying to Almighty Allah to rest the soul of Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan in eternal peace, to grant good health to Shaikh Khalifa, and progress and prosperity to the UAE people.