Sheikh Mohammed hoists UAE flag at Expo 2020 Dubai

The ceremony celebrated UAE Flag Day and sparked a week of events at the world's fair

The UAE flag being raised at Al Wasl Plaza at the Expo 2020 Dubai site.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan raise the UAE flag under Al Wasl Plaza at the Expo Dubai 2020 site for flag day. Photo: Screengrab from Dubai Media Office live feed

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed.

A military band perform at the flag day ceremony at Expo 2020 Dubai.

Flag day is celebrated annually on November 3, to mark the day in 2004 when Sheikh Khalifa became President of the UAE.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, hoisted the UAE flag at Expo 2020 Dubai to mark Flag Day.

The ceremony was held at Al Wasl Plaza on the Expo site, in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Chairman of Dubai Media Council and Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed.

The UAE flag is hoisted on November 3 every year to celebrate the anniversary of President Sheikh Khalifa taking office.

Hundreds of schoolchildren, senior citizens and trainees from the Dubai Police Academy took part in the celebration at the Expo site.

“We have chosen to celebrate UAE Flag Day at a place that brings the world together to achieve the goal of creating a better future for humanity," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"On this occasion, we reaffirm our commitment to realising the values on which the Union was founded and building bridges of co-operation with nations across the world to shape a better future for the planet.”

Sheikh Mohammed noted that these celebrations took place as the country is on the brink of entering a new phase of growth after recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic.

At the end of the ceremony, the Ruler of Dubai stressed the importance of honouring the flag and passing on the values it represents to the younger generation.

Dubai's Crown Prince, Sheikh Hamdan, said that the UAE Flag Day is an occasion for citizens to renew their commitment to the nation.

“The UAE flag will always be a symbol of national pride that represents the country’s unique identity and values," he said.

"Our nation’s flag constantly reminds us to keep striving to achieve greater heights and go the extra mile to accomplish the highest excellence in everything that we do, so that our efforts will benefit all of humanity."

Pupils at schools across the Emirates also raised the nation’s colours on UAE Flag Day.

Schoolchildren dressed in the colours of the UAE flag took part in parades to mark the occasion.

Pupils at one Dubai school put on their roller skates and – with flags in hand – skated through the grounds.

UAE Flag Day is marked by schools, government offices, businesses and individuals, who hang the nation's flag outside their homes and workplaces.

Flag-raising ceremonies, where the national anthem is played, are also held to mark the occasion.

The UAE flag was created by Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah, when he was 19, after reading a newspaper article about a contest to design the new nation’s standard.

He was inspired by the poet, Safi-u-ddin Al Hali. The four colours on the flag represent Arab unity, as described in poetry written by Al Hali.

The idea for Flag Day was conceived by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, to celebrate the accession of Sheikh Khalifa as President of the UAE in 2004.

It is commemorated every year on the anniversary, November 3. It is not a public holiday.