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Ministry of Presidential Affairs](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OLMWIICVJEN7CTLYAEFQWKU34Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=657b19c87823506cdf54fff305b5bffac1d0a6bd44d6000223431782797d5752&width=400&height=225)
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Ministry of Presidential Affairs](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OLMWIICVJEN7CTLYAEFQWKU34Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=657b19c87823506cdf54fff305b5bffac1d0a6bd44d6000223431782797d5752&width=400&height=225)
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![President Sheikh Khalifa receives Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah; Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain; and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah. Wam](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5WS452KDIJDM5HJKWMX6JPCR2I.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec7f12fdfb95706abe105693974a100e9a15094c17425c588a94c2eb3a752e9a&width=400&height=225)
As we celebrate Flag Day, how the winds of change have blown through the UAE
Sheikh Khalifa became president on November 3, 2004 and the UAE of 2019 is a very different place
![James Langton](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F59aec61e-41b3-468c-8a69-57168338145b.png?smart=true&auth=20537dd68c837a65707d347b248e74bad34b378390f02a7be13b68d756185b99&width=70&height=70)
James Langton
November 02, 2019
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November 02, 2019