Flag Day an opportunity to promote and celebrate UAE values

Academics and educators share their thoughts on the importance of Flag Day for the UAE.

ABU DHABI // Flag Day is an opportunity to educate youth about the UAE’s values and the importance of celebrating national unity, academics and teachers say.

“The UAE Flag Day is symbolic of national pride and happiness as it brings everyone together in a celebration of our unity,” said Fatma Al Marri, chief executive of the Dubai Schools Agency at Knowledge and Human Development Authority, which regulates schools in Dubai.

“It represents a wonderful opportunity for schools to reflect on national values and share the culture and heritage of this great nation with young ones.”

Rubina Quraishi, senior instructor on UAE and GCC society at Abu Dhabi University, said Flag Day is significant for many reasons. It is a chance to celebrate progress, diversity and pluralism, and the UAE’s support for women since its founding.

“It’s a very big national occasion which is a good day to remember who we are, where we came from and to celebrate the country’s success. It has become one of the world’s richest and happiest nations.”

Flag Day is also a time to celebrate the country’s multiculturalism. While National Day is more driven by patriotism, Flag Day marks the country’s progress, she said.

“These are all occasions to celebrate the country’s investment and development,” she said. “Forty years ago, the country relied on fishing and pearl diving, and now there is investment across science, technology, tourism.”

“We are such a young nation and have crossed many boundaries that other countries are struggling to do.”

The country has witnessed shifts in ideology, practices and beliefs, such as the promotion of women and appointment of female ministers, said Ms Quraishi.

“These are things which weren’t practical 40 or so years ago. It’s been a complete shift in beliefs,” she said.

Dean Pyrah, principal at the Victoria International School of Sharjah, said Flag Day gives schools a chance to reinforce the message of unity, peace and happiness embedded in UAE culture.

“We use it as an opportunity to explain to the students across the school what the flag represents and we link that with our values,” said Mr Pyrah. “It is about building understanding.”

Mary Pittman-Jones, elementary principal of the American International School in Abu Dhabi, said observing Flag Day is an “important lesson” in the school’s heritage curriculum.

“Our students learn that flags have symbolic values, and how this symbolism helps us to understand the past, the dreams and the hopes of a group of people bound by land, blood and faith,” said Mrs Pittman-Jones.

Teachers review traditions with flags, such as flying them over government offices and residences as signs of patriotism, or draping them over coffins of fallen heroes to show respect, she said.

“This helps our children understand why a day such as Flag Day is important to their development as citizens of a proud nation,” said Mrs Pittman-Jones.

Students at Gems Al Barsha National School have been asked dress in red, white, black and green to celebrate, said principal Lesley Isherwood.

A ceremony will be held, led by students who will share traditional Arabic poetry, give an oath to the flag and sing the national anthem when the flag is raised in front of the school.

Jeff Evans, managing director of Learning Key Educational Consultancy in Al Ain, said Flag Day and other traditions inspire national pride.

“For all schools and particularly those with many UAE national students, the opportunity to sing the national anthem and salute the flag every day in morning assembly is a way of celebrating national pride and the achievements of the country,” said Mr Evans.

“Many of the private schools with an international mixture of students also strongly develop an understanding and awareness of UAE culture and heritage.”