Flag City events turn Abu Dhabi into blaze of patriotic colour

Flag City events are taking place over the three days since Wednesday at Abu Dhabi Mall in the capital, and Festival City mall in Dubai.

ABU DHABI // Shopping centres got in on the Flag Day celebrations by running events for children to teach the significance of the UAE flag.

The Flag City events at Abu Dhabi Mall and Festival City mall in Dubai saw flags being distributed to visitors and storytelling sessions for youngsters.

Ghada Al Mansoori, 23, a third-year student at Higher Colleges of Technology — Abu Dhabi Women’s College, was one of the volunteers helping run the event at Abu Dhabi Mall.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how happy I am today,” she said. “I want to share my happiness with everybody.”

She was involved in storytelling session to the children, in which they learnt the history of the UAE flag, tales about its colours and its value in the minds of citizens and the UAE leaders.

“I’m happy to see many people from different nationalities celebrating Flag Day with us,” said Zainab Al Marzooqi, 41, who painted children’s faces in national colours.

Ghada Abad, 35, a Syrian housewife, was thrilled to see her two daughters Rayan, 6, and Malak, 5, enjoy the activities at the mall.

“They also celebrated Flag Day at school,” she said. “As expatriates, we share the love and pride that Emiratis have for their country. The UAE is our second home, and we feel safe and secure here.”

Her daughters sat down on colourful bean bags, had their photos taken and busied themselves with crayons and colouring sheets.

“Flag Day is an important tradition,” said Reem Saleh, 38, a housewife from Jordan who lived here since she was one year’s old.

“At my daughter’s school, students came dressed in four different colours and formed a human UAE flag. My daughter was so excited to wear her red dress to school today.”

At the Flag City, her younger daughter Tuleen, aged two years and seven months, also had her face painted in the national colours.

Joanna Dela Cruz, 30, a Filipina housewife who has lived in the UAE for 25 years, said she was amazed at the cultural openness of the UAE in recent years.

Her son Noah, 2, sat smiling and enjoyed colouring the UAE flag at Flag City’s arts and crafts section.

Flag Day emphasises the love for the country, the love for the Government, and people coming together to celebrate the unity of the seven emirates.

“Emiratis take pride in their nation and their culture,” Mrs Dela Cruz said.

“I practically grew up here and it feels good to celebrate Flag Day with them. It gives us pride to live here in the UAE.”