MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)

 

Emiratis, residents and visitors carried their UAE flags throughout the "One Flag, One Walk, One Community" event on Wednesday, transforming the Yas Marina Circuit into a tableau of national unity.

The event aligns with the "Proud of the UAE" campaign launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It aims to reinforce social cohesion, patriotism, and national identity amid regional developments.  

On the ground, that message translated into something personal: a sense of belonging among Emiratis, residents, and visitors who took part in the community walk.

For South African expat Yashvika Taliep, who moved to Abu Dhabi in 2023 with her husband and two children, the feeling came gradually.

"The first few days were overwhelming; I felt so small in such a big city," she told Aletihad.

"But after a couple of weeks, once we started exploring beyond downtown, driving through the islands, visiting places like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, there was just this sense of calm. That's when it started to feel like home."

That feeling, she added, has only deepened through shared national moments. "During Eid, during National Day - seeing how people celebrate together - you realise you're part of a community."

For Duncan Lowe, who moved from Bristol nearly two years ago for work and a better life for his family, the adjustment followed a similar arc: from novelty to familiarity, and eventually belonging.

The British expat, who lives on Yas Island and regularly visits the circuit for exercise, said attending the walk with his family was a natural extension of that routine.

"We come to the track regularly, but this was about showing support, celebrating the Emirates, and getting through these tough times as one society," he told Aletihad.

Long-time resident Eddie Harrigan, who first arrived in the UAE in 2010 and now splits his time between several countries, described a similar pull. "I always come back," he said. "It's the safety, the security, the people. There's a real camaraderie here."

As a regular runner at the circuit, Harrigan didn't see the evening walk as an interruption. "It's a very special moment; seeing everyone with the flags, coming together like this… it means something," he said.

The event also drew visitors, some of whom found themselves part of the moment by chance. Jay Barford, who previously lived in the UAE for 18 months, said his decision to return with his partner Georgina Allen was driven by nostalgia and a desire to reconnect with a place that had left a lasting impression on him.

"It was the 10th-year anniversary of when I left," he told Aletihad. "I'd always wanted to come back." The couple said they initially debated whether to travel amid regional tensions, but ultimately decided to proceed with their trip, feeling confident in the conditions on the ground.

What stayed with Barford from his earlier years in the country was its diversity. "It's one of the most multicultural places I know. Everyone has a place here," he said.

Emiratis also joined the event, taking part alongside residents and visitors in a visible display of national pride. "I am here to show up for my country and its leadership," Rouda Alkaabi, a mechanical engineering student at Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, told Aletihad.

"Our country has made a tremendous effort to ensure people feel safe and life continues as normal in these difficult times. This is the least I can do." The sight of Emiratis, residents from around the world, and tourists coming together for the UAE "feels really special", Alkaabi added.

The event was organised by the Department of Health - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre and Abu Dhabi Sports Council, in collaboration with Yas Marina Circuit and Ethara.