Patriotism and pride were on full display as the Emirates united to celebrate UAE Flag Day on Tuesday. A sea of red, green, white and black greeted visitors to Dubai's Kite Beach as national flags fluttered on golden sands. Beachgoers admired the impressive show of unwavering support for the annual occasion. It proved fitting that health workers - themselves a source of glowing national pride for their tireless response to the Covid-19 pandemic - played an integral role in the event. Staff at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi were among those who raised the flag in unison as the clock struck 11am. Flag Day is an annual celebration held since 2013, marking the ascension of Sheikh Khalifa as President of the UAE. It is a banner day for all sections of society, with schools, workplaces, public places and individuals all flying the flag in honour of the UAE. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, took to Twitter to reflect on what UAE Flag Day means to him. "The UAE flag is, and will always remain, a symbol of peace and progress," said Sheikh Mohamed. "On Flag Day, we remember the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to defend their flag, and we remind ourselves of the UAE’s determination to be at the forefront of development." Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, recently called on the nation to mark the occasion. “We call on our citizens, institutions and ministries to raise [the flag] on November 3 at 11am,” he wrote. The ongoing impact of the Covid-19 outbreak prompted some to get creative to ensure the milestone day could be enjoyed by all. At Jumeirah English Speaking School in Dubai, staff turned to technology to include all of its pupils in the festivities while keeping restrictions on large gatherings in mind. The school's oldest Emirati pupil was given the responsibility of raising the school's flag, while live assemblies delivered by the heads of primary and secondary school were beamed to pupils in classrooms. The flag holds a special place in Emirati culture and is a symbol of the country’s unity. Made up of red, green, white and black rectangles, the colours represent courage, honesty, love and hope. It was designed by Abdullah Al Maainah in 1971 after he saw an advertisement for a flag-designing competition in Al Ittihad newspaper.
