• Burj Khalifa lights up with the colours of the UAE flag to celebrate Flag Day on Tuesday. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
    Burj Khalifa lights up with the colours of the UAE flag to celebrate Flag Day on Tuesday. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office
  • Adnoc headquarters on Abu Dhabi Corniche lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
    Adnoc headquarters on Abu Dhabi Corniche lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
  • Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
    Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
  • Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
    Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
  • W Hotel in Abu Dhabi lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
    W Hotel in Abu Dhabi lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
  • The Galleria mall in Abu Dhabi lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office
    The Galleria mall in Abu Dhabi lights up with the colours of the UAE flag on November 3. Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Government Media Office

Landmark buildings light up in the UAE's colours to celebrate Flag Day


  • English
  • Arabic

Landmark buildings across the UAE lit up in the country's colours on Tuesday in honour of Flag Day.

In Abu Dhabi, the Adnoc headquarters, Capital Gate, W Hotel on Yas Island, The Galleria mall and Khalifa University were among the buildings to display the country's flag.

Some buildings also displayed the slogan "raise it high, raise it proud".

In Dubai, the colours of the UAE flag illuminated the city centre as Burj Khalifa displayed the banner's red, black, white and green.

Flag Day was introduced in 2013 and it commemorates the accession of Sheikh Khalifa as President of the UAE in 2004.

  • One-year-old Ava walks through the sea of flags at Kite Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    One-year-old Ava walks through the sea of flags at Kite Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Health workers raise the flag at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. Victor Besa / The National
    Health workers raise the flag at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City. Victor Besa / The National
  • The UAE flag is lifted high at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
    The UAE flag is lifted high at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
  • UAE flags on the boundary wall of the Umm Suqeim Girls School in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    UAE flags on the boundary wall of the Umm Suqeim Girls School in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Giant UAE flags adorn the Medcare Hospital in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    Giant UAE flags adorn the Medcare Hospital in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A huge flag is draped over The Palace Nursery in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    A huge flag is draped over The Palace Nursery in Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • The Al Manara Centre in Dubai marks UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
    The Al Manara Centre in Dubai marks UAE Flag Day. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A row of UAE flags made for a stunning sight at Kite Beach, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A row of UAE flags made for a stunning sight at Kite Beach, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The UAE flag is positioned on a building in Internet City, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
    The UAE flag is positioned on a building in Internet City, Dubai. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A building in Internet City is decked out in red, white, green and black. Pawan Singh / The National
    A building in Internet City is decked out in red, white, green and black. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Flags on Sheikh Zayed Road. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Flags on Sheikh Zayed Road. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A lady admires the flags on Kite Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A lady admires the flags on Kite Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • A beachgoer looks on at the row of national flags lined on Kite Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    A beachgoer looks on at the row of national flags lined on Kite Beach. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Across the country, all activity ceased at 11am to raise the flag and hear the national anthem played to mark the historic day.

The flag holds a special place in Emirati culture and is a symbol of the country’s unity.

The colours represent courage, honesty, love and hope. The flag was designed by Abdullah Al Maainah in 1971 after he saw an advertisement for a flag-designing competition in Al Ittihad newspaper.

The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

While you're here
Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

In the Restaurant: Society in Four Courses
Christoph Ribbat
Translated by Jamie Searle Romanelli
Pushkin Press 

THE SPECS

Engine: Four-cylinder 2.5-litre

Transmission: Seven-speed auto

Power: 165hp

Torque: 241Nm

Price: Dh99,900 to Dh134,000

On sale: now

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 290hp

Torque: 340Nm

Price: Dh155,800

On sale: now

Monday's results
  • UAE beat Bahrain by 51 runs
  • Qatar beat Maldives by 44 runs
  • Saudi Arabia beat Kuwait by seven wickets
Volunteers offer workers a lifeline

Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.

When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.

Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.

Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.

“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.

Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.

“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.

The Two Popes

Director: Fernando Meirelles

Stars: Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce 

Four out of five stars

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

If you go

The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates


The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
 

When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season

Stage 2

1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix 4:18:30

2. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates 0:00:06

3.  Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma 0:00:06

4. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:06

5. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 0:00:08

BLACK%20ADAM
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Jaume%20Collet-Serra%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dwayne%20Johnson%2C%20Sarah%20Shahi%2C%20Viola%20Davis%2C%20Pierce%20Brosnan%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Best Academy: Ajax and Benfica

Best Agent: Jorge Mendes

Best Club : Liverpool   

 Best Coach: Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)  

 Best Goalkeeper: Alisson Becker

 Best Men’s Player: Cristiano Ronaldo

 Best Partnership of the Year Award by SportBusiness: Manchester City and SAP

 Best Referee: Stephanie Frappart

Best Revelation Player: Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid and Portugal)

Best Sporting Director: Andrea Berta (Atletico Madrid)

Best Women's Player:  Lucy Bronze

Best Young Arab Player: Achraf Hakimi

 Kooora – Best Arab Club: Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia)

 Kooora – Best Arab Player: Abderrazak Hamdallah (Al-Nassr FC, Saudi Arabia)

 Player Career Award: Miralem Pjanic and Ryan Giggs

Top%2010%20most%20competitive%20economies
%3Cp%3E1.%20Singapore%0D%3Cbr%3E2.%20Switzerland%0D%3Cbr%3E3.%20Denmark%0D%3Cbr%3E4.%20Ireland%0D%3Cbr%3E5.%20Hong%20Kong%0D%3Cbr%3E6.%20Sweden%0D%3Cbr%3E7.%20UAE%0D%3Cbr%3E8.%20Taiwan%0D%3Cbr%3E9.%20Netherlands%0D%3Cbr%3E10.%20Norway%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

Profile

Co-founders of the company: Vilhelm Hedberg and Ravi Bhusari

Launch year: In 2016 ekar launched and signed an agreement with Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi. In January 2017 ekar launched in Dubai in a partnership with the RTA.

Number of employees: Over 50

Financing stage: Series B currently being finalised

Investors: Series A - Audacia Capital 

Sector of operation: Transport