Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid calls on UAE to mark Flag Day

The 10th annual celebration will be held on November 3

Pupils from GEMS Al Khaleej International School, Al Garhoud, wear colours that match the UAE flag. Antonie Robertson / The National

Pupils also raised UAE flags. Antonie Robertson / The National

Young pupils wave UAE flags. Antonie Robertson / The National

A Dubai Police parade and a flyover by Al Fursan - the Air Force aerobatics demonstration team – are part of planned Flag Day celebrations at the Expo site. Photo: Screengrab from Dubai Media Office live feed

Wearing the green of the UAE flag, pupils get into the festival spirit. Antonie Robertson / The National

GEMS Al Khaleej International School pupils unveil a giant UAE flag. Antonie Robertson / The National

The flag is flown with pride across each of the seven Emirates in an enduring display of national unity. Antonie Robertson / The National

Javier Lopez, left, and Sergio Icardo sealed the first win of the inaugural Dubai Padel Cup. Photo: Dubai Padel Cup

Left to right: Luciana Capra, Juani Mieres Petruf, Javier Lopez and Sergio Icardo. Photo: Dubai Padel Cup

Top left to right: Fernando Poggi and Pablo Lima. Bottom left to right: Javier Garrido Gomez and Gonzalo Rubio Perez. Photo: Dubai Padel Cup

The Ministry of Justice celebrates Flag Day. WAM

The Crown Prince of Fujairah raises the state flag and emphasises the national cohesion experienced by the Emirates. WAM

Sheikh Mohammed bin Sultan bin Khalifa raises the flag. WAM

The General Pensions Authority celebrates Flag Day. WAM

The Governor of the Central Bank: Flag Day is an occasion to renew our affiliation and loyalty to the homeland. WAM

Celebrations in Fujairah. WAM

Celebrations in Fujairah. WAM

Celebrations in Fujairah WAM

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority celebrates Flag Day. WAM

The Mother of the Believers Association celebrates Knowledge Day. WAM

Staff at Sharjah Book Fair distribute UAE flags to celebrate flag day. Ruel Pableo / The National

Staff give out UAE flags to celebrate flag day at the Sharjah Book Fair. Ruel Pableo / The National

Emirates Heritage Club celebrates Flag Day. WAM

The Crown Prince of Sharjah attends the celebrations of the Emirate of Sharjah on Flag Day. WAM

Celebrations in Sharjah on Flag Day. WAM

The Crown Prince of Sharjah attends the celebrations. WAM

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan, Crown Prince of Dubai, attend Expo 2020 on UAE Flag Day. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Expo 2020 on UAE Flag Day. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Expo 2020 on UAE Flag Day. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Hamdan attend Expo 2020 on UAE Flag Day. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Hundreds of pupils stand together to write the message 'We love UAE' at Gems Wellington Academy in Al Khail on Flag Day. Photo: Gems Wellington Academy Al Khail

Pupils at Gems Wellington Academy on Flag Day. Photo: Gems Wellington Academy Al Khail

Sheikh Ahmed hoists UAE flag at a special ceremony at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3. Photo: Dubai Media Office

The ceremony at Dubai International Airport Terminal 3. Photo: Dubai Media Office

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) celebrates Flag Day. Photo: ADNEC

ADNEC celebrates Flag Day. Photo: ADNEC

Celebrations at ADNEC. Flag Day is observed on the third of November of each year. Photo: ADNEC

Celebrations at ADNEC. Photo: ADNEC

The Dubai Health Authority celebrates UAE flag day. Photo: Dubai Media Office

DEWA celebrates UAE flag day. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Celebrations at Dubai Police HQ. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed hoists the flag at Dubai Rulers court in celebration of UAE flag day. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, is calling on the country to help celebrate the 10th annual UAE Flag Day next week.

Sheikh Mohammed urged ministries and institutions to play their part in marking a banner day for the Emirates on Thursday, November 3.

He praised the UAE flag as "the symbol of our pride and unity" in a social media message on Friday.

"On November 3, our country will celebrate Flag Day. We call on all our ministries and institutions to raise it uniformly at 11 am on that day.," Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.

"Our flag will remain raised ... the symbol of our pride and unity will remain in the sky ... the banner of our pride, glory and sovereignty will remain high in the sky of achievement, loyalty and fulfilment."

The event, which was conceived by Sheikh Mohammed to celebrate the accession of Sheikh Khalifa as president of the UAE in 2004, was first marked in 2013.

It is commemorated every year on the anniversary, which is not a public holiday.

The day is marked by schools, government offices, businesses and individuals, who hang the national flag outside their homes and workplaces.

Flag-raising ceremonies, in which the national anthem is played, are also held.

The UAE flag was designed by a young Emirati, Abdullah Al Maainah, in 1971, as part of a competition in Al Ittihad newspaper.

The young Emirati intended the four colours to represent Arab unity, as described in poetry written by Safi-u-ddin Al Hali.

These are red for courage, green for hope, white for honesty and black for strength of mind.

His submission beat more than 1,000 entries vying to become the new nation's emblem.