Pupils at schools across the Emirates have raised the nation’s colours on UAE Flag Day.
Schoolchildren dressed in the colours of the UAE flag took part in parades to mark the occasion on Wednesday.
Pupils at one Dubai school put on their roller skates and – with flags in hand – skated through the grounds.
UAE Flag Day is marked by schools, government offices, businesses and individuals, who hang the nation's flag outside their homes and workplaces.
Flag-raising ceremonies, where the national anthem is played, are also held to mark the occasion.
Close to 800 pupils at Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail, Dubai, gathered on the school playing field to form the message, “We love the UAE.”
Pupils from nearby Gems Millennium School created the same message in Arabic, while children at Gems International School in Al Khail, also in Dubai, gathered on their playing field to form the number 50 – in recognition of the UAE's Golden Jubilee year.
“On each of our respective fields, we will be spelling out messages for UAE flag day and have a drone overlooking all three schools,” said Campbell Douglas, head teacher at Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail, speaking ahead of the event.
He said pupils at the school had practised to make sure it was a success.
“We wanted to celebrate unity in diversity,” he said.
“We have a diverse school population and have more than 90 nationalities at our school.
“It’s important that our pupils understand that for our world to progress, we need to understand our differences, as our strength comes from that.”
At American Academy for Girls, in Dubai, pupils dressed in green, red, black and white for the flag-raising ceremony.
“The flag represents the tremendous growth and forward-thinking of the UAE's founders and the unity of the Emirates,” head teacher Lisa Johnson said.
She said the steps back to normality as the Covid-19 pandemic recedes gave this year's Flag Day further significance.
“This year is particularly exciting as we have a return to assemblies. Even if there are limits, we are so happy to join in-person to learn about the history of the UAE flag and show our pride by wearing the traditional colours.
“With 80 per cent of our students being Emirati, this is a significant day for our school community and we are proud to see all our students dressed in red, green, white and black splendour.”
Dubai Schools Al Barsha invited Dr Aref Al Sheikh, who wrote the words to the UAE's national anthem, to speak to pupils about his experiences.
Ghadeer Abu Shamat, superintendent at Gems Al Khaleej International School, Al Garhoud, Dubai, said the school organised an assembly where the holy Quran was recited and poems were read by pupils.
The special programme was headed by the pupils, where they recited an oath to the country.
Children dressed in the colours of the flag also took part in a parade.
Higher education institutions in the Emirates also marked the day with flag-raising ceremonies.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
Director: Goran Hugo Olsson
Rating: 5/5
Types of bank fraud
1) Phishing
Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.
2) Smishing
The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.
3) Vishing
The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.
4) SIM swap
Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.
5) Identity theft
Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.
6) Prize scams
Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
