The UAE marks Flag Day on November 3, with the flag raised at 11am. Here is why it matters, what the colours mean and how to fly it correctly.
News Today Desk
Flag Day falls on Tuesday, November 3, and the UAE is marking its 14th annual celebration. Citizens, residents, ministries, companies and schools are being asked to raise the national flag together at 11am. It is not a public holiday, but it is typically celebrated with greater fervour across the country.
The occasion was established in 2013 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It commemorates the accession of the late President Sheikh Khalifa in 2004, and it has become a staple of the national calendar in the years since.
This year, Sheikh Mohammed called on the public to help proudly fly the flag in celebration of the nation. He described it as a symbol of national pride, loyalty and unity. In a message on X he wrote: "Raise it high, proud, noble and fluttering in the sky of our country." He said it was an occasion when the entire nation could come together to express their commitment to the country.
In the same message he linked the day to the sacrifices made in service to the country, and he closed with the words "Long live the homeland ... long live the flag."
The flag was chosen through a competition run by Al Ittihad newspaper in 1971, which decided who would have the honour of designing the flag of the new nation. Abdullah Al Maainah, a young Emirati, won. He was 19 at the time and later went on to become the minister of foreign affairs.
His entry was inspired by the poet Safi-u-ddin Al Hali, and it beat more than 1,000 entries to be selected to represent the new nation. Al Maainah intended the four colours to represent Arab unity, as described in Al Hali's works.
Two flags were raised in December 1971 to mark the formation of the nation, one in Abu Dhabi and one at Union House in Dubai. The flag was also flown at the UN headquarters in New York on December 10, 1971.
The flag uses four colours known as the pan-Arab colours, and each one carries a meaning:
Together they tell the story of a country built on shared effort, which is why the flag remains such a central part of how people mark the day.
The UAE Flag and Official Portraits Guidelines, published by the UAE Government Media Office, are clear on one point: flags that are worn, damaged or discoloured must be replaced and never raised. This applies even if the damage looks minor. Discolouration and worn fabric count, not just obvious tears.
The guide asks for flags to be inspected before each raising and after intense storms or abnormal weather, and replaced periodically to maintain their colour and quality. Keep the flag clean and ironed regularly.
When raised horizontally, the red section must be on the left of a person facing the flag. For a vertical display, the red section points upwards. The flag must be secured properly and should not touch the ground. Where it flies alongside other countries' flags, the UAE flag must not be positioned lower than the others.
The Presidential Protocol and Strategic Narrative Authority also has a detailed guidebook online covering how to display the flag indoors and outdoors, and what is prohibited.
A damaged flag should be lowered slowly, folded and kept in a suitable place while it is being replaced. The guidelines allow damaged flags to be recycled by separating their parts so they no longer retain the shape or appearance of the national flag. Burning should be avoided to protect the environment. Flags that are not in use should be folded and stored in a flag case.
Faded flags from ordinary weather exposure do not attract a fine. Federal law does, however, set severe penalties for public acts involving the flag. Article 3 of Federal Law No. 2 of 1971, as amended, prescribes imprisonment of between 10 and 25 years and a fine of at least Dh500,000 for publicly dropping, damaging or offending the UAE flag.
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Flag Day is simple to join, and the practical step comes first. Check the flag on your home, school or workplace, replace it if it is faded or torn, and raise it at 11am on November 3. The day is a reminder of the unity and loyalty the flag represents, and a chance to show it with care.
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WeatherThe NCM expects rain in eastern and northern areas from Tuesday to Friday, with highs of 38°C, humid nights and fog or mist at times.
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