Families across the UAE celebrated the Golden Jubilee in style on Thursday, with many kitting themselves out in black, red, green and white in honour of the country’s flag.
Kite Beach in Dubai was packed with residents and tourists from morning to evening as people made the most of the long weekend, enjoying the sun, sea and sand.
Cafes along the popular beach spot also joined in the celebrations and decorated chairs and tables with mini UAE flags.
You hear many expats say this is their second home, but actually for me, I say it is my first home
Mahesh Basolay,
Dubai resident
Well-wishers congratulated the country on its 50th anniversary as they dined, sunbathed and walked along the winding boardwalk adjacent to the beach.
One family out enjoying a group bike ride took the celebrations a step further by flying a large UAE flag while blasting out Arabic music from a boom box attached to their lead bicycle.
Pradeep Madishetty, 36, and his wife, Pratima, said they always celebrate UAE National Day together. They were joined at the beach by their son Pradyun, 7.
“Living in the UAE for 13 years I have not missed a National Day celebration yet,” he said.
“We don't usually decorate our house with the colours of the UAE but this year we did to pay homage to a place we call home.”
Over the weekend, the family plans to eat Arab food and will head to Expo 2020 Dubai for the first time to watch the fireworks display on Friday.
Emotional day
For Mahesh Basolay, it was an emotional day. A resident in Dubai for 16 years, he said his two daughters were born here and it was an "honour to mark five decades of greatness” in the UAE.
“You hear many expats say this is their second home, but actually for me, I say it is my first home. I started my family here and I plan on staying for a long time,” he said.
“We are spending today in Dubai and will head to Khorfakkan and then Jebel Jais tomorrow. It makes sense to visit some of the other emirates for this Golden Jubilee weekend as it is a little country that has lots to offer."
Citywalk, a popular place with Emiratis, residents and tourists, was also buzzing with activity for National Day.
Many children were dressed in outfits that featured the colours of the UAE flag.
Tasneem Murtaza, 43, from India, was celebrating the day with her two children at Citywalk. The UAE has been her home for 20 years.
"It's like I'm celebrating my own national day. All of us have grown with the country. It has made so much progress and so have the people," said Ms Murtaza, who runs an events company.
"My children were born and brought up here. This is where they want their lives to be. So, the National Day means a lot to us and we are looking forward to an even brighter future of the country."
Rajeev Kunujummen, 42, also from India, was at Citywalk to celebrate the day with his wife and two children.
He has lived in Dubai for 18 years and said they were proud of the UAE's rapid progress.
"This is our home and we are very happy to be living here. I came here a long time [ago] and this is where I met my wife and we got married. We have a lot of memories here," he said.
"We've seen how quickly the country progressed and all of the fast developments here. It's incredible."
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The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Scores in brief:
- New Medical Centre 129-5 in 17 overs bt Zayed Cricket Academy 125-6 in 20 overs.
- William Hare Abu Dhabi Gymkhana 188-8 in 20 overs bt One Stop Tourism 184-8 in 20 overs
- Alubond Tigers 138-7 in 20 overs bt United Bank Limited 132-7 in 20 overs
- Multiplex 142-6 in 17 overs bt Xconcepts Automobili 140 all out in 20 overs
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
