Abu Dhabi, UAE – The United Arab Emirates celebrates its National Day today, Saturday, July 18. This national occasion commemorates the historic moment when the founding fathers established the foundations of the federal state. It also renews the fruits of the leadership’s initiatives aimed at consolidating national identity and strengthening the spirit of belonging and loyalty among all segments of society.
A presidential decree commemorates a historic moment.
The celebration of this day follows a decision made by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, on July 18, 2024, to designate this date as an official national holiday called “Union Day.” The choice of this date was not arbitrary, but rather commemorates the historic meeting held on this day in 1971, when the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, met with his fellow rulers of the Emirates. Together, they signed the “Union Document” and the UAE Constitution. Following this, they announced the Union Declaration and the official name of the United Arab Emirates.
This meeting is considered a pivotal moment that paved the way for the official establishment of the Union on December 2nd of the same year. On that day, the United Arab Emirates was declared a unified political entity, bringing together the seven emirates under one flag. Since then, the Union document has become a symbolic and legal reference point, reflecting the nation’s journey from its founding to its current state of development.
Zayed and Rashid: An exceptional partnership that made history
The anniversary of the Union commemorates two exceptional leaders, according to many historians and observers of Emirati affairs: the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. They bore the responsibility of creating the appropriate political and social environment for the declaration of the federal state, in a highly complex regional and international context.
Sheikh Zayed’s character as an ambitious leader emerged early on. He represented the ruler of Abu Dhabi in the Al Ain region for over twenty years before assuming power in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in 1966. During this period, Sheikh Zayed witnessed firsthand the extent of the region’s hardship. This was due to the scarcity of fresh water and the lack of income sources beyond what the sea provided and some agriculture and livestock farming. However, the discovery of oil in Abu Dhabi and the commencement of the first actual exports marked a turning point that changed the course of the entire region. It also paved the way for a new era of construction and development.
Lofty goals behind the celebration
The celebration of Union Day is not merely commemorative; it also carries specific national and educational objectives that the UAE leadership seeks to achieve through this annual occasion. Foremost among these objectives is to instill national awareness among all members of society regarding the pivotal steps that led to the establishment of the Union, beginning with the signing of the Union Document and the UAE Constitution, and continuing until the official declaration of the state on December 2nd.
The occasion also seeks to reinforce the national values and principles established by the Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, and his fellow rulers. These values continue to form the foundation upon which the nation’s progress in various fields is built. The third objective is to acquaint younger generations with their country’s history and the magnitude of the sacrifices and efforts made to achieve this historic accomplishment. This ensures the continuity of national memory and its transmission from one generation to the next.
A series of initiatives to document national memory
The celebration of Union Day is part of a broader series of initiatives launched by the UAE leadership. Through these initiatives, the leadership has been keen to document national sites and historical days that accompanied the founding of the Union. Collectively, these initiatives aim to enable successive generations to draw inspiration from the national lessons and values that accompanied that pivotal stage, and to solidify them in the collective consciousness of Emirati society.
These lessons, as the occasion indicates, reflect the spirit of unity and cohesion that has bound the leadership and the people since the early days of the nation’s founding. These values and principles continue to be reinforced by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan through decisions described as inspiring. These decisions document the UAE’s historical legacy and strengthen national awareness across all segments of society and successive generations.
A compass towards the Union’s centenary in 2071
The celebration of Union Day is inseparable from the UAE’s long-term strategic vision, embodied in its centennial in 2071. The values and principles established by the founders, foremost among them Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan, are intended to remain present and guiding the nation’s journey towards a more prosperous and advanced future under the banner of the Union. This serves the stated goal of making the UAE, by its centennial, one of the best and most advanced countries in the world.
All of this stems from the UAE leadership’s commitment to consolidating national identity and strengthening the spirit of belonging and loyalty to the nation, considering them fundamental pillars for the continuation of the development and progress that began more than five decades ago. Union Day represents an annual occasion to renew the pledge to the founding values of the state. It also commemorates the leaders who laid the foundations for the union of the seven emirates. Between remembering the past and looking towards the future, the UAE continues to solidify its national identity, generation after generation. This is achieved through a path that connects the Union Document signed in 1971 with the Centennial Vision, which looks forward to 2071.
