President Sheikh Mohamed: UAE 'united by a shared sense of national pride' on Flag Day

UAE workplaces and schools celebrate Flag Day

President Sheikh Mohamed walks with his grandchildren at the Sea Palace before Flag Day. Seen with Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed raises the UAE flag at the Abu Dhabi Executive Office in the presence of members of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, to celebrate UAE Flag Day and honour the nation’s symbol of unity, loyalty and pride. Photo: AD Media Office

The UAE flag is raised at Abu Dhabi Executive Office. Photo: AD Media Office

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Group, raises the UAE Flag at the group's headquarters. Photo: Emirates

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, greets schoolchildren at Expo City Dubai on UAE Flag Day. Photo: Expo City Dubai

Jumeirah International Nursery students take part in the Emirates Group's UAE Flag Day ceremony. Photo: Emirates

Vendors selling flags and other related items in Satwa, Dubai to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo / The National

Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police, Maj Gen Saif Al Shamsi, attends the force's Flag Day celebrations.

UAE University celebrates with a flag-raising ceremony attended by Prof Ghaleb Al Hadrami, acting vice chancellor, academic staff and students. Photo: UAE University

Flags for sale in Satwa, Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National

The flag is raised at Al Ain Zoo at a ceremonyu attended by the zoo's director, Ghanim Al Hajeri, and all staff. Photo: Al Ain Zoo

Youssef Al Abri, undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, led the department's celebrations. Photo: ADJD

Vendors selling flags and other related items in Satwa, Dubai to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo / The National

Abu Dhabi City Municipality celebrates Flag Day.

Vendors sell flags in Satwa, Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National

Union Coop celebrates UAE Flag Day 2022

A pupil celebrating the flag day at Raffles World Academy in Dubai. Ruel Pableo / The National

Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation, raises the UAE flag at Expo City Dubai. Photo: Expo City Dubai

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, raises the UAE flag at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan. Wam

Dubai Police raise the flag. Photo: @DubaiPoliceHQ / Twitter

Flags on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National

Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National

A staff at Adnoc petrol station proudly wears a UAE scarf to celebrate UAE flag day in Khalifa City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

UAE flag raised at at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan, in the presidential palace compound. Wam

Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National

The flag-raising ceremony is the attended by Sheikh Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office, and a number of government figures and employees. Photo: Sharjah National Day Celebrations Committee

Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National

Sharjah marked UAE Flag Day with a flag-raising ceremony on The Flag Island. Photo: Sharjah National Day Celebrations Committee

Pupils at the Indian High School, Dubai, celebrate UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National

A display of UAE flags on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

A display of UAE flags on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

A display of UAE flags on Kite Beach in Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

Al Dhafra Club executive management and staff celebrate UAE flag day at the entrance to Hamdan bin Zayed Stadium in Zayed City, Al Dhafra region. Twitter/AlDhafra

Dubai Police raise the flag at their headquarters in Deira.

Essam Issa Al Humaidan, Dubai attorney general and employees of Dubai Public Prosecution take part in UAE flag day. Photo: DPP

Members of Al-Nasr Sports Club in Dubai celebrate the flag day.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority members of staff attend the flag raising ceremony at the headquarters in Umm Hurair.

Federal Authority For Government Human Resources members of staff at the UAE flag day celebrations.

Etihad Rail painted a locomotive in the colours of the UAE in honour of flag day. "We raise the flag of the United Arab Emirates, a symbol of sovereignty, unity, and pride. We are proud of our contribution to the advancement of the nation's transport sector," the transport company said on Twitter.

Abu Dhabi Pension Fund employees participated in the UAE flag day celebration. Photo: Supplied.

Federal Authority For Government Human Resources celebrates UAE flag day.

Dr Abdul Nasser Al Shaali, UAE's ambassador to India, raise the flag at the embassy in New Delhi.

Sharjah Consultative Council raises the flag in front of its building in Sharjah

A man arranges the flags at Raffles World Academy in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National

Flag outside a coffee shop in Dubai to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo for The National

Flag Day in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National

President Sheikh Mohamed on Flag Day said people in the UAE are united by national pride and are optimistic about the future.

In a post on Twitter accompanied by a video showing UAE leaders with young Emiratis, Sheikh Mohamed said the optimism is based on the future generation who will continue the country's progress.

"As people across the UAE join together to raise the flag as one, we reflect on our country’s past and are optimistic for its future," he said.

"The UAE people are united by a shared sense of national pride and a steadfast belief in the next generation who will lead our continued progress."

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, shared a Twitter post with a group of Emirati boys.

"Today we raised the flag of the United Arab Emirates with a group of Emirati sons who represent part of our future," Sheikh Mohammed wrote.

"It's a day on which we establish loyalty and belonging in our generations and celebrate the symbol of our sovereignty and pride, and renew our pride in our unity and union. May God protect our flag, our state and our people."

The UAE celebrated Flag Day on Thursday, with schools and workplaces across the country marking the occasion.

At 11am, people briefly stopped work to mark the event, which is now in its 10th year.

The idea was conceived in 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid to celebrate the accession of Sheikh Khalifa as President in 2004.

It is commemorated every year on the anniversary, November 3, although the day is not a public holiday.

Who designed the UAE flag?

Abdullah Al Maainah came up with the design in 1971 as part of a competition run by Al Ittihad newspaper.

The young Emirati intended the four colours to represent Arab unity, as described in poetry written by Safi-u-ddin Al Hali.

His submission beat more than 1,000 entries vying to become the emblem of the new nation.

Mr Al Maainah was 19 at the time and would later become the minister of foreign affairs.

Only two flags were raised in December 1971 to mark the formation of the nation — one in Abu Dhabi and the other at Union House in Dubai.

On Thursday, there are likely to be hundreds of thousands.