Flag Day: UAE President raises flag at Qasr Al Hosn with 55 achievers
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, raised the national flag on the flagpole of Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, 3 November, to mark Flag Day and celebrate the symbol of the country's unity and sovereignty, in a ceremony accompanied by the national anthem.
He was joined by 55 accomplished and talented individuals from different sectors, their number representing the years of the Union, as an expression of the leadership's pride in them and its commitment to excellence and creative minds. His Highness said the flag was raised in celebration of the journey of a nation whose foundations were laid by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his brothers, the Rulers, adding that "our people are our most precious asset" and the source of the country's strength and prosperity.
The occasion was marked across the emirates. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, had called on citizens, residents, institutions, schools, universities and households to raise the flag on the day, and issued a message celebrating the Union's banner. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs raised the flag at its headquarters, and government entities and schools held similar ceremonies renewing their loyalty to the leadership.
Flag Day has been celebrated every year since 2013 at the initiative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid. It coincides with the anniversary of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan assuming the presidency on 3 November 2004. This year's celebration comes weeks before National Day on 2 December, which marks 55 years since the Union was founded in 1971.
Al Majlis Analysis: Choosing 55 accomplished people to raise the flag alongside the President is more than protocol. It links the symbol to the people who give it meaning: each year of the Union is matched by a person from a different field, a clear signal that national achievement is measured in talent before buildings. The venue adds another layer. Qasr Al Hosn is the oldest historic building in Abu Dhabi, placing the ceremony in a line of continuity between the founding generation and today's, which is exactly what His Highness pointed to when he spoke of a journey founded by Zayed and the Rulers. With offices, schools and homes raising the flag together, Flag Day becomes a natural prelude to the 55th National Day only weeks away.