• A spectacular fireworks display on the Corniche to mark the UAE's Golden Jubilee year in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    A spectacular fireworks display on the Corniche to mark the UAE's Golden Jubilee year in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Down below was a wonder that seemed to defy the laws of physics: a lake floating on a lake — the man-made stage for the hour-long show. Everyone in the UAE could watch the live show broadcast on all local TV channels, as well as on the National Day’s official website. Victor Besa/TheNational.
    Down below was a wonder that seemed to defy the laws of physics: a lake floating on a lake — the man-made stage for the hour-long show. Everyone in the UAE could watch the live show broadcast on all local TV channels, as well as on the National Day’s official website. Victor Besa/TheNational.
  • The Golden Jubilee show opened with the sound of drums rolling across the waters and reverberating through the peaks. From high in the hills came the sound of the nadba, the ancient cry of greeting of the Shihuh, the tribe whose home is the mountains of the Northern Emirates. Victor Besa/TheNational.
    The Golden Jubilee show opened with the sound of drums rolling across the waters and reverberating through the peaks. From high in the hills came the sound of the nadba, the ancient cry of greeting of the Shihuh, the tribe whose home is the mountains of the Northern Emirates. Victor Besa/TheNational.
  • Live screenings were also organised in all seven emirates, in cinemas, cultural spaces, and public places. Victor Besa/TheNational
    Live screenings were also organised in all seven emirates, in cinemas, cultural spaces, and public places. Victor Besa/TheNational
  • Broadcast live from Hatta Lake, the 50th National Day Celebration was a fitting extravaganza for a country that often goes above and beyond. Victor Besa/TheNational.
    Broadcast live from Hatta Lake, the 50th National Day Celebration was a fitting extravaganza for a country that often goes above and beyond. Victor Besa/TheNational.
  • The UAE flag displayed on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh/The National.
    The UAE flag displayed on Burj Khalifa. Pawan Singh/The National.
  • Children enjoying the joy rides outside the Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh/The National.
    Children enjoying the joy rides outside the Dubai Mall. Pawan Singh/The National.
  • ADNOC lit up with different images of the leaders to mark the year of the Golden Jubilee occasion, in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/The National
    ADNOC lit up with different images of the leaders to mark the year of the Golden Jubilee occasion, in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/The National
  • A young boy waves the UAE flag from the dhow monument along the Corniche for the 50th National Day in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/The National
    A young boy waves the UAE flag from the dhow monument along the Corniche for the 50th National Day in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari/The National
  • Children waiting for the airshow display along the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
    Children waiting for the airshow display along the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
  • Proud Emirati children waiving the UAE flag along the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
    Proud Emirati children waiving the UAE flag along the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari/ The National
  • Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attend the Federal Supreme Council meeting, at the Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Palace. Photo: Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
    Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attend the Federal Supreme Council meeting, at the Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Palace. Photo: Mohamed Al Hammadi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs
  • The Al Fursan Air Display at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    The Al Fursan Air Display at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • A spectacular aerial display at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    A spectacular aerial display at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Water Feature area at Expo 2020 Dubai during the 50th UAE National Day. Victor Besa/The National.
    Water Feature area at Expo 2020 Dubai during the 50th UAE National Day. Victor Besa/The National.
  • Rola Saheb from Dubai at the flag garden near Kite Beach. Pawan Singh / The National
    Rola Saheb from Dubai at the flag garden near Kite Beach. Pawan Singh / The National
  • A girl and a boy with UAE flag colours at Kite Beach, on Jumeirah Beach Road. Ruel Pableo / The National
    A girl and a boy with UAE flag colours at Kite Beach, on Jumeirah Beach Road. Ruel Pableo / The National
  • Families spend time at Kite Beach on UAE National Day. Ruel Pableo / The National
    Families spend time at Kite Beach on UAE National Day. Ruel Pableo / The National
  • A flag-carrying family cycle along Kite Beach. Ruel Pableo / The National
    A flag-carrying family cycle along Kite Beach. Ruel Pableo / The National
  • Young women on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi fly the country's flag for the 50th National Day. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Young women on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi fly the country's flag for the 50th National Day. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Emirati families celebrate the UAE's National Day on the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Emirati families celebrate the UAE's National Day on the Corniche. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Emirati boys enjoy National Day in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Emirati boys enjoy National Day in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • A young man's headgear is straightened for National Day. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    A young man's headgear is straightened for National Day. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Proud siblings wave the national flag on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
    Proud siblings wave the national flag on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
  • Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai prepare to celebrate the UAE's 50th National Day. Victor Besa / The National
    Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai prepare to celebrate the UAE's 50th National Day. Victor Besa / The National
  • Brothers spend the country's anniversary at the world's fair. Victor Besa / The National
    Brothers spend the country's anniversary at the world's fair. Victor Besa / The National
  • Festivities get under way with a colourful parade. Victor Besa / The National
    Festivities get under way with a colourful parade. Victor Besa / The National
  • The parade is a sea of colour and sound. Victor Besa / The National
    The parade is a sea of colour and sound. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said the country had overcome huge challenges over the past 50 years. Victor Besa / The National
    Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said the country had overcome huge challenges over the past 50 years. Victor Besa / The National
  • Live music adds to the party atmosphere. Victor Besa / The National
    Live music adds to the party atmosphere. Victor Besa / The National
  • (L-R) Anju Jacob, Evelyn and Sebin Dcruz at the flag garden near Dubai's kite beach on the UAE’s 50th National Day. Pawan Singh / The National
    (L-R) Anju Jacob, Evelyn and Sebin Dcruz at the flag garden near Dubai's kite beach on the UAE’s 50th National Day. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Rola Saheb from Dubai at the flag garden. Pawan Singh / The National
    Rola Saheb from Dubai at the flag garden. Pawan Singh / The National
  • Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai on UAE National Day. Victor Besa / The National
    Visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai on UAE National Day. Victor Besa / The National
  • Young Emiratis in costume for UAE National Day. Victor Besa / The National
    Young Emiratis in costume for UAE National Day. Victor Besa / The National
  • A photograph is taken to mark the memorable occasion. Victor Besa / The National
    A photograph is taken to mark the memorable occasion. Victor Besa / The National
  • Young people enjoy the special events. Victor Besa / The National
    Young people enjoy the special events. Victor Besa / The National
  • A series of events was held to mark National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    A series of events was held to mark National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • This little girl points the way forward. Victor Besa/The National
    This little girl points the way forward. Victor Besa/The National
  • Servhub treated its employees to a National Day celebration at their accommodation in Jebel Ali. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Servhub treated its employees to a National Day celebration at their accommodation in Jebel Ali. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • Servhub staff enjoy the occasion. Ruel Pableo for The National
    Servhub staff enjoy the occasion. Ruel Pableo for The National
  • The flag-raising ceremony gets under way. Victor Besa / The National
    The flag-raising ceremony gets under way. Victor Besa / The National
  • Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and commissioner general of Expo 2020 Dubai, speaks after the flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza. Victor Besa / The National
    Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and commissioner general of Expo 2020 Dubai, speaks after the flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza. Victor Besa / The National
  • An Al Azi performance takes place. Victor Besa / The National
    An Al Azi performance takes place. Victor Besa / The National
  • Visitors arrive at the world's fair – with masks on. Victor Besa / The National
    Visitors arrive at the world's fair – with masks on. Victor Besa / The National
  • People dressed to celebrate the UAE's special day arrive at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
    People dressed to celebrate the UAE's special day arrive at Expo 2020 Dubai. Victor Besa / The National
  • Aircraft fly over The Founder's Memorial – a national tribute to the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed – on the UAE's 50th National Day. Photo: Wam
    Aircraft fly over The Founder's Memorial – a national tribute to the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed – on the UAE's 50th National Day. Photo: Wam
  • Sadique Ahamed ran 50 kilometres in Abu Dhabi on National Day to show his appreciation and loyalty to the UAE. Photo: Wam
    Sadique Ahamed ran 50 kilometres in Abu Dhabi on National Day to show his appreciation and loyalty to the UAE. Photo: Wam

National Day 2021: UAE celebrates 50th year


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  • Arabic

The UAE's 2021 National Day, which coincides with the country's Golden Jubilee, marks 50 years since the founding of the Emirates.

Visit The National's UAE at 50 page for our curated special coverage and follow our live blog below for the latest updates.

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Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.

Based: Riyadh

Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany

Founded: September, 2020

Number of employees: 70

Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions

Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds  

Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices

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5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | ​​​​​​​Dh80,000 | 1,400m
6pm: Liwa Oasis (PA) Group 2 |​​​​​​​ Dh300,000 | 1,400m
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The biog:

Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma

Pet Peeve: Racism 

Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne 

What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms

Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s

Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"

Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model 

Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy

Some of Darwish's last words

"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008

His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.

Updated: December 03, 2021, 5:45 AM