UAE Flag Day is celebrated every year on November 3. It marks the ascension of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who became president of the UAE in 2004.

The national campaign was launched in 2013 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to honour the country’s past, present and future.

Each year for UAE Flag Day, Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office, unveils a stunning display of hundreds of flags on Dubai’s beach. This iconic garden returns just in time for UAE Flag Day 2024 on November 3.

UAE Flag Garden in Dubai

The flags are thoughtfully arranged rather than randomly placed. In past years, aerial views have revealed formations like the face of UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Expo 2020 Dubai logo, and more. This 11th edition of the UAE Flag Garden will honor the two Founding Fathers, deeply revered for their vital role in the UAE’s creation.

This year, the stunning and snap-worthy Flag Garden will return for its 11th year on Kite Beach.

What is UAE Flag Day?

The UAE Flag Day was first celebrated in 2013, a national campaign launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, to honour the country’s past, present and future.

The event was conceived by Sheikh Mohammed to celebrate the accession of the late Sheikh Khalifa as President of the UAE in 2004.

The day is marked by schools, government offices, businesses and individuals, who hang the national flag outside their homes and workplaces. Flag-raising ceremonies, in which the national anthem is played, are also held to mark the occasion.

Other celebrations over the past few years included the UAE flags laid out at the Kite Beach Jumeirah to form the faces of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nayhan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, when viewed from above.

What do the UAE flag colours mean?

The flag of the United Arab Emirates contains the Pan-Arab colors red, green, white, and black. The main theme of the flag’s four colors is the unity of Arab nations.

Red represents strength and courage and the sacrifices of previous generations. The vertical red band can also be interpreted as binding all the other meaning together in unity.

Green symbolises hope, joy, and prosperity and cultural renaissance. White represents the nation’s charitable contributions as well as peace and honesty, while black represents the strength of mind.

The UAE flag was designed by a young Emirati, Abdullah Mohammad Al Maainah. He later on went to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The flag was first used on December 2, 1971, and it was first hoisted by Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

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