Residents asked to write letter to future selves for 'UAE at 50' time capsule

The initiative celebrates golden jubilee with a look ahead

A Twitter picture of a parachuter flying the UAE flag. Courtesy Dubai media office

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirate’s dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage, marks the inaugural ‘Flag Day,’ by raising the UAE flag across heritage sites throughout the UAE, as well as the eight branches of the Dubai Public Library. Courtesy Dubai Culture & Arts Authority

Abu Dhabi's TDIC staff mark Flag Day outside their head office. Courtesy TDIC

Ras Al Khaimah Police celebrate Flag Day. Courtesy Ras Al Khaimah Police Department

The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority. Courtesy Dubai Culture & Arts Authority

Khalifa University celebrates Flag Day on campus. Students, faculty and staff gathered in the University’s campus in Abu Dhabi, recited the UAE’s National Anthem and the pledge of allegiance while raising the UAE’s flag. Courtesy Khalifa University

Dubai Financial Market. Courtesy DFM

Hussain Kazim raising the UAE’s Flag over Emarat Head Office. Courtesy Emarat

UAE Flag Day celebrations in Al Ain. Courtesy Al Ain Municipality

Ras Al Khaimah Policeman salute on the ground. Courtesy Ras Al Khaimah Police Department

A child holds two UAE flags outside Abu Dhabi Media's head office in the capital. Brian Kerrigan / The National.

Here in Abu Dhabi, we raise UAE flags outside the Abu Dhabi Media head office. Brian Kerrigan / The National

Employees from the General Secretariat of Executive Council participate in a flag-raising ceremony in Abu Dhabi. Sammy Dallal / The National

A helicopter flies a UAE flag around Abu Dhabi to commemorate flag day in the capital. Sammy Dallal / The National

Students from the Al Qurryah School in Fujairah hand out sweets (with the assistance of the police) to morning commuters on the road between Fujairah and Khorfakkan to mark Flag Day Antonie Robertson / The National

Khadem Al Hameli with the General Secretariat of Executive Council participates in a flag-raising ceremony to mark flag day. Sammy Dallal / The National

Tanmia, the National HR Development and Employment Authority celebrates Flag Day. Courtesy Tanmia

Dubai Health Authority workers observe Flag Day. Courtesy Dubai Health Authority

Dubai Police celebrates Flag Day at their headquarters. Courtesy Dubai Police Department

Dubai Customs on Flag Day. Courtesy Dubai Customs

Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed hoists the national flag in his diwan. WAM

Dubai Customs celebrates Flag Day.

Staff at TAQA’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi celebrated the United Arab Emirates’ National Flag Day on Sowwah Square by sporting the national colours of red, black, white and green. Courtesy TAQA

A large UAE flag hangs outside a home in the Al Mushrif neighbuorhood to commemorate UAE flag day. Sammy Dallal / The National

UAE residents have been asked to write a letter to their future selves to celebrate the country’s 50th anniversary.

The public have been invited to submit their messages in written, video or photo format. Those will appear online and will be placed in a time capsule.

Participants have been asked to describe their personal hopes for now until 2071, the UAE's centenary, and how they expect the country to grow and develop in the next 50 years.

Messages to the Future was organised by the Committee for Celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the UAE. Letters can be uploaded at www.UAEYearOf.ae.

Last week, Emirates announced it was celebrating the UAE’s anniversary with a special livery on its Airbus A380 and Boeing 777-300 jets.

The Dubai airline is set to wrap several of its planes with a "United Arab Emirates 50" design to celebrate the anniversary.

The gold-and-white livery wraps around the entire fuselage, one side in Arabic and the other in English.