Dubai: On December 2, 1971, people in the UAE were celebrating the unification of all seven emirates into one nation.
Dubai Police had another reason to celebrate that day, as the force was entrusted with a great responsibility – tailoring the flag of the UAE in Dubai.
Five decades on, in line with celebrations of the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, Dubai Police has released a film on the history of the tailoring of the UAE flag.
Captain Ahmed Al Kamda, head of the Archive Section of Dubai Police, said: “The force had received a letter for a new duty, which was tailoring and distributing the UAE flag across Dubai. The force used the best fabrics bought from abroad, such as from the UK. We wanted the colours of the flag to not fade because of environmental factors.”
Requests for flags at airport
Capt Al Kamda pointed to the letter shown in the video, which presented a request from Dubai Airport to Dubai Police asking to send six UAE flags to be raised to greet arrivals to Dubai and UAE.
Mohammed Ashraf Ali, former chief of tailors in Dubai Police, recalls when he was working at Dubai Police’s headquarter in 1971, when they were asked to make the UAE flag.
“I came to Dubai in 1971. When the union was established, Dubai Police was headquarter was in Naif fort. The English were still working with us. We were 10 people working in the tailor shop. It was a small place,” said Ali, who has retired from Dubai Police.
Disa Luis Disa, a supervisor of the tailors, said the UAE government gave them one flag and asked them to make the same design in fabric.
Respect for the flag
Meanwhile, Nasr Al Din Qamar Al Din, a tailor in the force since 1974, said they proceeded while making sure the flag did not touch the ground while it was being made. “Working on the UAE flag makes me very proud. We have great respect for the UAE flag. When I travel abroad, I feel so happy if I see the UAE flag,” he added.
Capt Al Kamda said Dubai Police is still entrusted with the same duty of tailoring the UAE flag.
“We are proud that the tailors of Dubai Police remain entrusted with the same duties of tailoring the UAE flag since the first National Day. It is a great honour and responsibility for Dubai Police,” added Al Kamda.
