History of UAE Flag Day: Honoring the nation’s heritage on November 3

On Friday, November 3, the country celebrates UAE Flag Day. The event commemorates the date when HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan assumed the presidency of the UAE in 2004.

The national campaign was initiated in 2013 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai. The campaign goal was to pay tribute to the history, current state, and future of the country.

On this day, the UAE flag is proudly displayed throughout the country. It can be seen outside ministries, government buildings, shopping malls, people’s homes, and cars, among other places.

The Ruler of Dubai tweeted a message to ministries and institutions, requesting them to raise the UAE flag at 11am on November 3, 2023.

٣ نوفمبر القادم تحتفل دولتنا بيوم العلم، ندعو كافة وزاراتنا ومؤسساتنا لرفعه بشكل موحد الساعة 11 صباحاً في ذلك اليوم. سيبقى علمنا مرفوعاً .. سيبقى رمز عزتنا ووحدتنا خفاقاً .. ستبقى راية عزنا ومجدنا وسيادتنا عالية في سماء الإنجاز والولاء والوفاء .. pic.twitter.com/eLmH90j5Ae

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) October 28, 2022

In his tweet, he emphasized the importance of expressing the unity of the country and its future by hoisting the flag simultaneously.

In recent years, there have been other festivities featuring the UAE flags artfully arranged on Kite Beach. These formations depicted the faces of Sheikh Mohammed and the current UAE President, HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as seen from an aerial perspective.

The significance of the colors on the UAE flag can be explained as follows:

The color red represents the sacrifices made by previous generations in establishing the union. Green symbolizes growth, prosperity, and a cultural rebirth. White represents the nation’s philanthropic efforts and its commitment to global security and peace. Lastly, black signifies the strength of the Emiratis and their steadfast opposition to injustice and extremism.

Also Read: The History of Islamic New Year: Tracing its Origins in the UAE