A building in Abu Dhabi lit up to celebrate Emirati Children's Day. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
A building in Abu Dhabi lit up to celebrate Emirati Children's Day. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
A building in Abu Dhabi lit up to celebrate Emirati Children's Day. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office
A building in Abu Dhabi lit up to celebrate Emirati Children's Day. Photo: Abu Dhabi Media Office

What does March 15-ECD mean on your mobile phone?


Salam Al Amir
  • English
  • Arabic

UAE’s mobile network operators have temporarily changed their names to celebrate Emirati Children's Day.

Both Etisalat and Du are substituting the message 'March 15-ECD' where the network name usually appears in the top left-hand corner of mobile screens.

Emirati Children's Day is celebrated every year on March 15 to raise awareness about children’s rights and to emphasise that children should be allowed to grow in a healthy, safe and supportive environment.

It was first celebrated in 2018, following a directive issued by Sheikha Fatima, Mother of the Nation, and is observed on March 15 to coincide with the signing of the Arab Children's Rights Charter in 1983.

A series of events and activities are organised across the Emirates to mark the day.

Mobile phone networks in the UAE have previously changed their names to celebrate or mark historic events.

In 2018, they changed their name to 'WelcomePresChina' to mark the visit of President Xi Jinping of China. In 2020, they changed their name to 'UAE2Mars' to show support for the UAE's historic launch of the Hope probe on its mission to Mars.

The specs: 2018 Genesis G70

Price, base / as tested: Dh155,000 / Dh205,000

Engine: 3.3-litre, turbocharged V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 370hp @ 6,000rpm

Torque: 510Nm @ 1,300rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 10.6L / 100km

Profile

Company: Libra Project

Based: Masdar City, ADGM, London and Delaware

Launch year: 2017

Size: A team of 12 with six employed full-time

Sector: Renewable energy

Funding: $500,000 in Series A funding from family and friends in 2018. A Series B round looking to raise $1.5m is now live.

The specs
Engine: 2.5-litre, turbocharged 5-cylinder

Transmission: seven-speed auto

Power: 400hp

Torque: 500Nm

Price: Dh300,000 (estimate)

On sale: 2022 

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

SPECS

Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
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UAE central contracts

Full time contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ahmed Raza, Mohammed Usman, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Sultan Ahmed, Zahoor Khan, Junaid Siddique, Waheed Ahmed, Zawar Farid

Part time contracts

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Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

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Updated: March 15, 2023, 6:56 AM