Sheikh Mohammed calls on UAE ministries to raise national flag on Friday

Sheikh Mohamed Bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called on citizens to celebrate the symbol of the country. Photo: UAE Presidential Court

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has called on ministries and institutions across the nation to raise the UAE flag at 11am on Friday.

This will be done in the lead up to Flag Day, which will be officially marked on Sunday, November 3, this year.

“Brothers and sisters, as we are accustomed to every year, we celebrate Flag Day. We celebrate the flag of the nation,” Sheikh Mohammed wrote on X. “We celebrate the symbol of our country, the secret of our strength, and the source of our pride: the flag of the United Arab Emirates.”

“We call on all ministries and institutions in the country to raise the UAE flag on November 1 of this year at 11am,” he added.

What is Flag Day?

The banner occasion, observed on November 3 each year, was established in 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed to commemorate the accession of the late President Sheikh Khalifa in 2004.

The flag’s four colours – known as the pan-Arab colours – each represent a different attribute. White stands for good deeds and generosity, green for growth and prosperity, black for strength, resilience and courage and red embodies the sacrifices made by previous generations of Emiratis in defence of the nation.

Rules for flag display

The UAE has strict rules in place for the display of the UAE flag periodically updated and distributed by authorities. The Presidential Protocol and Strategic Narrative Authority has a detailed guidebook available online on how to display the flag indoors and outdoors, and what is prohibited.

Here are some of the rules in place to preserve the integrity of the national flag:

• The flag should be printed on durable, high-quality and matte fabric only which should be either polyester or 100 per cent nylon.
• When displaying flags indoors, the base can be gold, silver or wooden. The flag must not touch the ground or base and must be at least 20-25cm from the base.
• No additional decorations can be added to the flag and no other flag should be on the same pole.
• The flag should be regularly checked for damage, at least once in 45 days. If damaged to any extent, it must be replaced immediately.
• When hanging in streets or on buildings, the flag should hang vertically with the red part up and the other three parts facing down so the viewer sees it vertically from every direction
• Damaged flags may be recycled by disintegrating their parts so that they no longer represent the shape of the flag, nor indicate its previous representation
• When hanging in streets or on buildings, the flag should hang vertically with the red part up and the other three parts facing down so the viewer sees it vertically from every direction.
• The flag shape and colours should only be displayed as intended and not used on decorative elements or altered to fit such purposes. Examples include balloons, logos and typography.
• The flag must not be printed on any disposable materials such as pillows, napkins or boxes and it is prohibited to print the UAE flag on edible items including cakes or sweets, or wrappers for such food items.
• The flag or any elements of it must not be used as a trademark or part of a trademark for advertising purposes without prior permission.