The UAE is celebrating Flag Day today – where the people of the UAE remember the significance of the founder of the state, His Royal Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
UAE Flag Day was first launched in 2013, by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and the Ruler of Dubai.
Today at 11 am, citizens across the UAE have raised their flags and marked the start of the national celebration. This years celebration marks a decade since the tradition has begun, the general protocol is that schools, business, individuals, and government offices are encouraged to display the flag outside of their offices or domiciles.
The tradition is held in very high esteem by many, including Sheikh Mohammed who a few days ago tweeted encouraging ministries and institutions to be ready to raise their flags.
About the flag
The flag’s colors, red, white, green and black, are the pan-Arab colors and each represent a particular trait. The red represents courage, green is for hope, white for honesty, and finally black signifies the strength of mind.
Ultimately the flag stands for unity of Arabs, and for that reason, while not a public holiday, the tradition is widely observed annually.
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