Music has always been pivotal in the UAE's Union Day celebrations.
From the country’s founding in 1971 and subsequent celebrations since, artists have performed in numerous concerts and festivals.
As part of the first celebration of the country's formation, the UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, invited revered Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum for an Abu Dhabi concert on the eve of December 2, 1971.
The show was held in a concert hall now known as Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall.
The official invitation addressed to Umm Kulthum by Sheikh Zayed showed its value in what is the UAE's most historic day.
“It is our pleasure to invite the Lady of the Arabic Song to visit Abu Dhabi to see our landmarks and to witness our achievements during a short period,” the letter read.
"It will also be a great source of pleasure and pride for us to hear your tender voice and beautiful melodies. We are hoping that you have the time to make this visit, on the occasion of the National Day of our country.”
The following year Egyptian singer Nagat Al Saghira's Union Day show was preceded by the first performance of the UAE national anthem, Ishy Bilady.
As the decades passed, the music events became more eclectic and included non-Arab talents as well.
On December 1, 2008, Abu Dhabi hosted one its biggest concerts with UK pop star George Michael at Zayed Sports City Stadium.
The show concluded what was meant to be his final world tour with more than 30,000 people grabbing tickets to see the former Wham! singer live.
Those arriving early to the show were able to see then up-and-coming star Alicia Keys in the support slot.
In 2014, orchestral rock highlighted a Union Day gig at Dubai Media City Amphitheatre. Abu Dhabi's 42-piece National Symphony Orchestra played songs from English band Queen.
A more refined affair was held at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports Stadium for the 47th Union Day celebrations in 2018.
Emirati musicians and members from London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performed The Legacy of Our Ancestors, a sweeping piece composed for the occasion.
From Emirati folk and classical Egyptian music to orchestral scores and western pop, the music heard at Union Day events reflect the dynamism and diversity of the UAE.
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures:Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
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