Sheikh Mohamed raises UAE flag alongside 55 achievers at Qasr Al Hosn
President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan raised the UAE flag at Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi on November 3, joined by 55 accomplished individuals whose participation placed the country’s people at the centre of this year’s Flag Day ceremony.
The gathering brought together talented individuals from different sectors, with their number symbolising 55 years of the Union. Accompanied by the national anthem, the ceremony connected recognition of the UAE’s founding journey with confidence in the people shaping its future.
Across the country, citizens, residents and institutions marked the occasion by raising the national flag in a shared expression of belonging.
Recognising the people behind the country’s progress
Sheikh Mohamed paid tribute to the path established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his fellow Founding Rulers, while emphasising the ambition and determination of the UAE’s people.
He described them as the country’s most precious asset and the source of its strength and pride. The presence of the 55 participants reflected recognition of talent, creativity and excellence, and their contribution to the nation’s development.
The guests expressed their pride in sharing the occasion with the President, who joined them for commemorative group photographs.
A ceremony surrounded by Abu Dhabi’s history
The setting added a historical dimension to the occasion. Qasr Al Hosn is Abu Dhabi’s oldest standing landmark, with a history that reaches back to the island’s early settlement.
Over the centuries, the site has served as a home to the ruling family, a seat of government, a consultative council and a national archive. Its buildings include the Inner Fort and the later Outer Palace, preserving different chapters of the capital’s development.
Following more than a decade of conservation and restoration, Qasr Al Hosn opened as a museum in 2018. Today, its exhibitions trace Abu Dhabi’s transformation from a community sustained by fishing and pearling into a modern capital.
A shared moment across the Emirates
This year’s observance followed a call from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, for citizens, residents and institutions to raise the flag at 11am.
In his Flag Day message, Sheikh Mohammed expressed pride in the country’s achievements and reaffirmed the ambition to keep advancing while preserving its unity.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Abu Dhabi, Minister of State Khalifa bin Shaheen Almarar raised the flag alongside officials and employees. His remarks highlighted the Union’s foundations and the importance of placing human development at the heart of progress.
The nationwide observance extended the occasion beyond official ceremonies, inviting participation from schools, universities, workplaces and homes.
The history carried by the national flag
Flag Day is observed annually on November 3, the anniversary of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan becoming President in 2004.
The flag itself connects the occasion to the establishment of the federation. Sheikh Zayed first raised it at Union House in Dubai on December 2, 1971, following his election as the UAE’s first President.
Its colours carry meanings associated with the country’s identity: green represents growth and progress, white reflects benevolence, black signifies strength and resilience, and red honours the sacrifices made to protect the homeland.
At Qasr Al Hosn, those historic associations framed a ceremony focused on people — remembering the founders while recognising the contributions of those continuing their work.
