Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marks Flag Day with Ceremony Affirming National Pride and Unity

Senior ministry officials gathered at MoFA headquarters in Abu Dhabi to raise the national flag, honouring the symbol of the nation's collective strength and the vision of its leadership

The morning light fell across the courtyard of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abu Dhabi as Khalifa bin Shaheen Almarar, Minister of State, raised the UAE flag at 11:00 a.m., marking a moment of quiet but profound national reflection. The ceremony brought together a gathering of senior government figures, retired diplomats and ministry staff to celebrate UAE Flag Day and the values it represents: unity, solidarity and an enduring commitment to safeguarding the nation’s progress.

The occasion was framed by a call from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, inviting all citizens, residents and institutions across the Emirates to participate in the flag-raising ceremony. The response reflected the nation’s deep sense of collective pride in a symbol that embodies belonging and loyalty to the state and its leadership.

In remarks following the ceremony, Khalifa bin Shaheen Almarar spoke of the flag as testament to a journey rooted in vision and unity. He traced its lineage to the Founding Fathers, particularly the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, whose foundations established a nation drawing strength from union and distinguished by economic vitality and human development at its centre. The minister noted that under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and his brothers, the Members of the Federal Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, the nation has advanced toward new horizons of ambition and achievement.

The gathering included Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, Minister of State; Saeed bin Mubarak Al Hajeri, Minister of State; Sheikh Nahyan bin Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Deputy Minister of State; Omar Obaid Alhesan Alshamsi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Omran Sharaf, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Advanced Science and Technology; Maha Barakat, Assistant Minister for Medical Affairs and Life Sciences; Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister for Energy and Sustainability; and Saif Abdulla Mohammed Alshamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Protocol Affairs, among other senior ministry officials.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Ministry’s observance of Flag Day speaks to the broader culture of national identity and civic engagement that characterises life in the capital. Abu Dhabi, as the seat of federal government and home to the presidency, holds particular resonance in these moments of collective affirmation. The ceremony at MoFA headquarters underscored the ministry’s role not merely as an administrative institution but as a custodian of the values and relationships that define the nation’s standing in the world.

Such moments of unity and reflection have become hallmarks of national life in the Emirates, with institutions across government and civil society participating in ceremonies that mark key milestones in the nation’s calendar. As we reported in an earlier piece on Ajman’s Flag Day observance, similar ceremonies took place across the Emirates on the same day, each adding to a collective expression of national pride and continuity.

Source: WAM