Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
For Emiratis in various fields, from culture to agriculture, the UAE flag stands for the core values that have united the country and a symbol of how far the nation has come since it was founded in 1971. It is a reminder of the longstanding Emirati principles that remain evident not only in the country’s journey and ambitions but also in people’s everyday life.
Fatima Al Mazrouei has been helping safeguard the country’s collective memory as Head of Historical Archives at the National Library and Archives, and for her, Flag Day is “a day of pride and honour, celebrating what has been achieved during over 50 years of work and determination.”
The UAE colours, she said, stand for day-to-day values people should live by: unity, loyalty, hard work, and cooperation. A salute to the flag is a pledge to always keep the homeland as a priority, Al Mazrouei said.
“We are one people, one leadership, and one homeland, raising the flag should be an occasion to renew our pledge of loyalty and commitment,” she said.
“Maintaining the flag’s status is a national responsibility that begins with awareness and culminates in action. Every achievement is an invisible raising of the flag in the skies of the world.”
Water sustainability researcher Fatma Alhantoubi ties the flag to purpose and profession. By honouring the flag, people renew their loyalty and devotion to a nation that has always put its people first, she said.
“Respect for the flag means respect for the nation in every action we take, from striving for excellence in our work to representing the country in the best possible light abroad,” Alhantoubi said.
Hamed Al Hamed, Founder of Gracia Group and Chairman of the Emirates Agricultural Pioneers Association, sees Flag Day as a moment of personal reflection.
“The value of this day reminds everyone to rekindle this national spirit, bringing people together to plan for the future,” he said.
To every person who raises the flag, he said, “Ask yourself, what have we done and what will we do? Have you been able to translate this love [of country] into action, efforts, and impact?”
“What we were raised on by our leadership is to plan with love and achieve with impact,” he stressed.
Al Hamed said the values of Flag Day – which have long been ingrained in UAE society – are values that are honoured in everyday life.
“Every day is an achievement for every Emirati and resident on this land. This is the true school; the school of Zayed and the children of Zayed,” he said.
Composer Dr Eman Al Hashimi calls Flag Day “an emotional moment that goes far beyond any ceremonial celebration – a journey in which the Emirates moved from aspiring toward the horizon to becoming the horizon others look toward.”
The flag narrates the story of “one people, one heart, and one spirit”, said Dr Al Hashimi, who is also the founder of the Autoimmune Association (AIA).
She added that today, “we are not lifting a piece of fabric; we are lifting a value of life.”
“Raising it is not a moment of celebration; it is a renewal of commitment.”
A Message to the World
For Emirati poet Saif Munassar Al Harthi, whenever the UAE flag is raised, it conveys Emirati values to the world and reinforces the country’s determination to rise beyond its borders.
“Raising the flag at international events is the clearest and most eloquent expression of our commitment to competing and leading the global stage,” he said.
Dr Al Hashimi agreed that as the UAE flag is hoisted on international platforms, it tells the world, “This nation did not reach where it is by coincidence, but by will, vision, and respect for human worth.”
For Dr Ibrahim Ali Mohamed, Chairman of the Environment Friends Society, it also serves as a beacon of peace and harmony.
“[It sends] a message of peace, tolerance, and sustainability, reflecting the identity of a nation that has made humanity the cornerstone of its progress,” Dr Mohamed said.
“The higher our flag flies, the higher our values, our achievements, and our nation’s reputation rise in the world,” he added.
A Reminder for the Next Generation
Al Harthi said that, more than the festivities, Flag Day is an opportunity to remind the next generations of the UAE founders’ sacrifices for the flag and the Union. “Flag Day is not just an occasion. It is our everyday, our very being, and our belonging,” he said.
Instilling love for the flag, however, begins by example – not by instruction, said Dr Al Hashimi.
“When a child understands that the flag represents their dignity, identity, and future, they will carry it in their heart long before they raise it with their hand,” she said.
Al Mazrouei also underscored the need to connect the youth to the meaning of the flag. “A child who grows up loving the flag will grow up loving the UAE and will carry its banner faithfully when they grow up,” she said.
