UAE National Day celebrations to continue in space

Bank campaign will see UAE flag taken into the stratosphere using a custom helium balloon.

ABU DHABI // The UAE flag is set to be unfurled at the edge of space this weekend as part of extended celebrations to mark the country’s 43rd National Day.

J P Aerospace, an independent US-based space programme, was commissioned by Al Hilal Bank to develop a custom helium balloon that would lift the ft by 4ft flag to the edge of space above Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Desert on Saturday.

It will mark the culmination of the bank’s “Raise your voice, raise your flag” campaign celebrating the foundation of the UAE.

“A patriotic project of this kind has never been done before in the Middle East,” said Mohammed Jamil Berro, the bank’s group chief executive.

Mr Berro said the bank was aiming for a target altitude of 90,000 feet but the height at which the flag would fly would depend on the number of voices and hashtags collected through social media, booths in various locations and a dedicated website, itsallabout.ae.

Emiratis and expatriates can visit the site, where they will be instructed on how they can recite and record the national anthem in support of the campaign.

“We urge the public, especially the youths representing the country’s bright future, to visit our microsite and express their great pride for the UAE and their joy in being part of its rich history and prosperity,” Mr Berro said.

“We will be one with the nation in lifting our dreams and ambitions as the UAE flag proudly streaks across the sky come December 13.”

Al Hilal hoped to get the country’s youths to lend their voices and participate on social media by sharing the hashtag #itsallaboutUAE.

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