His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him”, chose the date of Flag Day in the Emirates, November 3, to coincide with the date of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE President “may God protect him”, taking over the reins of power in the UAE. While the name commemorates the day on which the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, May God rest his soul, rose the state’s flag to fly high in 1971, announcing the founding of the United Arab Emirates, so the Flag Day has ever since linked the two events together and became an eternal symbol of the nation from the moment of its unification.
The flag of the United Arab Emirates was chosen as the official flag of the country in 1971, and it was designed by Mohammed Abdullah Al Maeenah, who chose its colors in light of the verse that the poet Safi Al-Din Al-Hilli said: “Our deeds are white, our ranches are green, our battles are black, and our swords are red.” The white color symbolizes the work of good and giving, and the state’s approach to support security and peace in the world, while the green color expresses the growth and prosperity and the civilizational renaissance of the UAE, the black color symbolizes the strength, staunch and toughness of the people of the UAE, and the rejection of injustice and extremism, and the red color indicates the sacrifices of the generation preceding the founding of the Union, and the sacrifices of the nation’s martyrs to protect its achievements and gains.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in the first celebration of this occasion, reaffirmed these meanings, saying: “We renew the pledge and promise to serve and elevate the status of the people of the Emirates, to sacrifice the soul for the sake of the soil of the our homeland, and to be loyal for the UAE flag and consolidate its position. The flag is a trust we received from the founding fathers, and it is in “my brother” Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s trust, and in my trust as well, and in every he or she citizen’s, and it is a trust in the hands of future generations to preserve it and enhance its gains and status.
On that day, the people of the Emirates stand to see the state’s flag, while it flutters in the sky to remember how fathers and grandfathers exerted everything precious for the sake of promoting a proud nation that embodies the values of civilization and humanity. They draw inspiration from the symbol of the flag the values of loyalty and belonging to the land, family and ancient heritage. And they must gather all the energies of diligence and work to serve the nation and elevate its status, and to preserve its flag forever high and important, so that the UAE continues to be immune to undermining.
Thus, Flag Day has become a precious national occasion in the hearts of the citizens of the UAE, in which emphasis is placed on the union and its clear national goals and objectives, renewed adherence to preserving the cohesion of its people to preserve the achievements of the state, and reaffirms the continuation of the process of work and giving in order to elevate the nation and preserve its development, progress, and even leadership among the ranks of the developed countries of the world.