December 2 marks 48 years of visionary leadership, skyrocketing ambition and refashioned landscape with UAE’s National Day as an honorary unification of the seven emirates as the nation we know today.

Having formally nationalized in 1971, the country’s opulence which sprouted from the historic pearl diving remains true even today with it’s various multidisciplinary avenues such as fashion, culture, and tourism, which has opened the doors of this fantastical realm in becoming one of the world’s greatest spectacles. Each celebration is an understatement of UAE’s persevering efforts, however, together they tell the tale of the nation in their very own way.

Setting the bar high for all celebrations was The Crown Prince of Dubai who proved that UAE knows no limits by hoisting the flag at a daring height of 144.28 m² and also setting a new world record for the largest flag flown in free fall.

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The Dubai- based airline, Emirates, pushed the bar a notch higher by setting yet another world record of the most multicultural passengers on one flight. Home to many, UAE has always welcomed diversity with open arms and the departure of 145 nationalities by Emirates in the EK2019 is an epitome of just that.

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The cloudy blue skies were colored with peaceful white, virtuous green, brave black and powerful striking red in a customary annual airshow for  the occasion  by the UAE National Aerobatic Team at Abu Dhabi Corniche.

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A cultural showcase at the Presidential Palace, Qasr Al Watan, with a majestic parade led by the Abu Dhabi Police Music Band that makes us all beam with pride.

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Heritage aglow with a tributary short film to the late Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed in a gathering of 20,000 Emiratis at the Zayed Sports Stadium. Over 900 performers tell the tale of the country’s heritage and history through scintillating storytelling of the life, sacrifices and achievements of UAE’s ancestors titled ‘Legacy of our Ancestors’.

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HRH Sheikha Mariam bint Khalifa bin Saif Al Nahyan’s very own take on the occasion leaves us bejeweled with her UAE National Day limited edition collection. Each piece totalling to over 75 hours of meticulous engraving to carve the portraits of our founding fathers.

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With ceremonies taking place in many ways than one, we are left in awe of everything the nation has achieved with 48 successful years behind her. Happy National Day!

Cover image credits: @maithaalansari