A very important day in the UAE’s calendar will be marked this week – Flag Day.

While there is no official day off for UAE Flag Day, it’s a day of significance as it marks the day when the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan ascended into the role of President of the UAE.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, even shared a message of importance earlier this week to mark UAE Flag Day.

“We call on our citizens, organisations, and ministries to hoist the flag simultaneously on November 3 at 11:00 am to express the unity of our home and our destiny,” he said on Twitter.

But what exactly is UAE Flag Day? Emirates Woman is here to highlight everything you need to know.

What is UAE Flag Day?

UAE Flag Day was first launched in 2013 and is celebrated every year on November 3. However, it is not recognised as a public holiday.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid was the one with the idea to launch the annual Flag Day as a commemoration to Sheikh Khalifa who was elected President of the UAE on November 3, 2004.

The history of the UAE flag

The UAE flag was designed in 1971 by 19-year-old Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah, who was inspired by a poem of Safiul Din Al Holi in his design. The poem touches on the themes of benevolence, goodness and kindness, which are represented in the colours of the flag.

Last year, the now President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan explained the UAE flag is “an enduring display of national unity”.

The flag was designed in 1971 by 19-year-old Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah, who was inspired by a poem by Safiul Din Al Holi in his design. The poem touches on the themes of benevolence, goodness and kindness, which are represented in the colours of the flag.

His father, the late Sheikh Zayed and father of the UAE, was also involved in the design process of the flag.

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Media: Twitter, Feature Image: Unsplash