UAE leaders mark 54th National Day at Zayed National Museum - in pictures
A drone show at the 54th Eid Al Etihad official celebration at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi. All photos: UAE Presidential Court
President Sheikh Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, stand for the national anthem
The extravaganza was beamed live to all seven emirates
The UAE National Orchestra offered a stirring soundtrack
The venue is primed to be a jewel in the crown of Abu Dhabi's Saadiyat Cultural District
Sheikh Mohamed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr watch the show
Archive footage and artistic performances documented the journey of the nation’s communities across thousands of years
A narrator told how UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, was a 'guardian of the desert' and 'explorer of the seas'
Sheikh Zayed recognised that 'true wealth lies in people' and that 'God's blessings must be shared'
The Zayed National Museum served as a stunning backdrop to a series of theatrical performances held on its sprawling grounds
The show highlighted how the roots of the past continue to act as the firm foundation to cultivate growth
Sheikh Mohamed could be seen taking photos of the event, with Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Sheikh Mansour and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid
The show was non-chronological, regularly sweeping forwards and back in time during the country's history
The UAE flag was a common sight
Zayed National Museum officially opens on Wednesday
