يوم العلم الإماراتي.. رمزُ يرفرف في محطات الإنجاز
During the celebration of the “Flag Day”, the UAE celebrates this year, a national symbol that has fluttered in many milestones on Earth and in space, and in various fields.
A celebration in which everyone in ministries, institutions and schools gathers around the national flag, simultaneously on the third of November, at eleven o’clock in the morning, UAE time, and it is hoisted high and lofty in various parts of the country.
The flag rises, hugging the sky, proud of the decades of achievements it has witnessed since the founding President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan raised it for the first time on December 2, 1971, at the Union House in the Emirate of Dubai, until today.
Historic achievements, crowning the UAE’s 50-year history (the golden jubilee), and establishing a path towards a prosperous future in its 2071 centenary, through which the UAE aims to be the best country in the world.
The UAE celebrates the “Flag Day” at the invitation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to raise the state flag on the flagpole at the same time.
The occasion coincides with the celebration of the anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to power in the country on November 3, 2004.
Everyone is quick to “raise the flag of the state high so that it remains lofty” as an expression of belonging to the Emirates, loyalty and gratitude to the leadership, and in appreciation of the symbolism and position of the flag in their hearts and to express their respect and reverence for the flag under which all these achievements have been achieved.
Historic political, economic, scientific and cultural achievements, successive in various fields, confirm that the “impossible” approach pursued by the UAE leadership does not stop at a certain limit, and that overcoming challenges and turning them into achievements for the benefit of the UAE, the Arab world and humanity in general is the preferred mission of “Zayed’s children”. Achievements that put the UAE on the map of the world’s superior countries in various fields, and with it “Dar Zayed” turned into a source of inspiration for the Arabs and the world.
Political and human rights achievements
The most recent achievements on the human rights and diplomatic fronts were the UAE’s winning of membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council on October 14, for the period 2022-2024, with 180 countries voting in its favour, out of a total of 193 members, in an achievement that expresses the level of appreciation and international respect for the UAE, its position and its role.
The UAE won membership in the Human Rights Council, backed by an inspiring experience in supporting human rights since its founding in 1971. The UAE has not only supported human rights over the 50 years since its establishment until today, but has also established its commitment to it over the next 50 years to be an eternal approach to it through the document “Principles of The Fifty”, which charts the strategic path of the UAE during the next half century, during which “Dar Zayed” establishes lofty humanitarian principles that preserve human rights at the national and international levels.
The adoption of the Fifty Principles, last October 9, came 6 weeks after the establishment of the “National Human Rights Authority” in the UAE, which will contribute to strengthening the values of respect for pluralism, acceptance of others and the sustainability of the foundations of coexistence, tolerance and harmony.
The UAE’s victory in the membership of the UN Human Rights Council also came several months after another achievement, which is the election of the UAE last June for membership in the Security Council for the period 2022-2023, in successive international steps that highlight the great position that the UAE enjoys in its regional and international surroundings.
Flag Day comes at a time when the UAE and the region are reaping the fruits of peace, which was launched with the signing of the Abrahamic Agreement between the Emirates and Israel on September 15 of last year.
This year witnessed milestones and achievements that culminate in accelerated efforts to implement the historic peace agreement on the ground, and reflect a sincere desire that cooperation between the two sides contribute to the advancement of the region by launching a new phase of relations and cooperation between countries in the Middle East, leading to the consolidation of security, peace and stability.
In translation of these efforts, the United Arab Emirates, on July 14, officially opened its embassy in Israel, in a historic event that resulted from the peace agreement signed between the two countries, in the presence of the Israeli president. On June 29, Israel opened its embassy in Abu Dhabi. And its consulate in Dubai, during a visit by Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid to the UAE, in the first official visit by an Israeli minister to the UAE since the two countries signed the peace treaty.
Space… Unprecedented Achievements
In the space sector, the UAE flag has witnessed unprecedented achievements, with which the UAE has strengthened its position as a global center for space science and technology.
The latest of these achievements is the announcement by the UAE, last October 5, of a new mission in the field of space that includes the construction of an Emirati spacecraft that will travel 3.6 billion kilometers, during which it will reach Venus and seven asteroids in the solar system and make a historic landing on the last asteroid in its five-year journey.
Historic landing will be the first Arab on an asteroid 560 million km from Earth, making the UAE the first Arab country and the fourth country in the world to send a space mission to Venus and the asteroid belt in the solar system.
The UAE is launching the space project with its unprecedented scientific goals to enhance the UAE’s contribution to the scientific progress of humanity.
The “UAE mission to explore Venus and the asteroid belt” contributes to the development of advanced technologies and technological innovations previously unknown to mankind in various sectors, disciplines and space sciences, to achieve this historical scientific leap of human knowledge.
The mission of the new Emirati spacecraft enhances the development of distinguished Emirati and Arab engineering, technology and research competencies over the years preceding and following the historic moment of the launch of the spacecraft in 2028.
This achievement comes about two months after the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Center revealed the selection of Abdullah Al Hammadi and Saleh Al Ameri to be the first two Emirati astronauts to participate in the Emirates Space Simulation Project “Mission No. 1”, as part of the International Scientific Research Program at the unique ground station “Sirius” 20/ 21, in a move aimed at developing the capabilities of the UAE and contributing to the promotion of the Mars 2117 program, which aims to establish human settlements on Mars by the year of that year.
This historic achievement comes at a time when the UAE “Probe of Hope”, the first Arab and Islamic probe to reach the orbit of Mars, continues its scientific mission to collect information and data that humanity has not previously reached.
The “Hope Probe” had reached the Red Planet on February 9, making the UAE the first Arab country and the fifth country in the world to achieve this achievement, before the probe itself succeeded on April 14 in moving from the capture orbit to its scientific orbit, and the world is waiting for the The probe provide the first comprehensive and complete picture of the Martian atmosphere.
As a culmination of these achievements, the UAE hosted the 72nd International Space Conference at the Dubai World Trade Center from October 25-29 last, for the first time in the Arab world.
The version bearing the slogan “Inspiring innovation and discovery for the benefit of humanity”, during which the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center announced that it has reached partnership relations with “Thales Alina Space”, “Airbus”, “SpaceX”, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs and the European Space Agency “ESA”. The conference provided a great opportunity for the center to provide more updates on the “MBZ-SAT” satellite project, through which it actively participates with regional companies in an ambitious endeavor to build a local center for companies specialized in manufacturing space products and equipment.
Expo Dubai
At the level of individuality, too, the activities of “Expo 2020 Dubai”, which is the first international expo to be held in the Arab world, and the largest cultural event in the world, is currently continuing.
The official activities of Expo 2020 Dubai began in early October and will continue until March 31, 2022, under the slogan “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, for the first time in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
The exhibition looks forward to hosting the world in this international event and involving everyone in this exceptional march, in order to inspire future generations and participate in the launch of innovations that will be the pillar of human progress in the next fifty years. Expo 2020 Dubai brings together 192 countries, and through their pavilions and participation, the ideas and innovations that With it, we can shape the features of a better future for humanity.
Barakah Station 2.. Achievements continue
The opening of the “Dubai Expo” comes about two weeks after the completion of the process of connecting the second station of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first peaceful nuclear energy reactor in the Arab world, to the main electricity grid of the UAE.
And the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced last September 14 that its operating arm, Nawah Energy Company, has completed the safe connection of the second station of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant to the main electricity network in the UAE, after the start of operation of the second plant in late August, thus producing the first megawatts of friendly electricity. For a carbon-free environment from the second of the four Barakah plants.
At the end of 2020, the UAE announced that the reactor of the first plant had reached 100% of its production capacity.
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plants contain 4 reactors, which are among the third generation of advanced nuclear power reactors, which, upon completion, will produce 5.6 gigawatts of electricity.
As the UAE moves forward to achieve more achievements in the next 50 years, the four Barakah plants, upon completion, will provide 25% of the UAE’s needs of reliable and environmentally friendly electric energy to support progress and sustainable development for the coming decades and beyond.
“Barakah” moves the development path in the UAE to advanced stages, placing the country within the “club of adults” in accordance with its commitment to building a diversified national economy in line with global requirements and standards to meet the challenges of climate change, maintain the sustainability of natural resources, and reduce carbon emissions. “Barakah” enhances the soft power system in the Emirates Which became the first in the Arab world and 31st globally in the production of electricity using nuclear technology. It also became the first country in the world to build 4 peaceful nuclear units at once and in accordance with the highest and best international security and safety standards.
The Abrahamic Family House.. an oasis of tolerance
Efforts continue in full swing in the UAE to establish the Abrahamic Family House, which embodies the UAE’s belief in the values of tolerance, coexistence and brotherhood.
The “Abrahamic Family House”, which brings together the three major monotheistic religions, is a translation on the ground of the “Human Fraternity” document that was launched from the UAE two years ago, and the world commemorated its signing in an annual international celebration, which was celebrated for the first time last February 4th.
The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted February 4 as the International Day of Human Fraternity, based on an initiative presented by the UAE, in cooperation with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt.
The UN resolution came in appreciation of the historical step taken by Abu Dhabi and its efforts to embrace the signing of the historic document of human brotherhood, signed by the Grand Imam, Dr. Ahmed Al-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and His Holiness, Pope Francis, Pope of the Catholic Church, under the patronage of Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi. Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, who spared no effort to show this document to the world with its lofty principles that pave the way for a better world.
The Abrahamic Family House, which includes a church, a mosque and a synagogue under one roof, is not only a place of worship, but a beacon of mutual understanding and coexistence between people of religions, a destination for learning, dialogue and acquaintance, and an oasis that brings together brothers in humanity towards a future of peace, harmony and love. The house is scheduled to open on Saadiyat Island in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi in mid-2022, to serve as a center for spreading religious tolerance and coexistence and spreading the values of peace.
The celebration of the Flag Day culminates in humanitarian achievements spanning 50 years since the founding of the UAE, during which the volume of UAE foreign aid amounted to 320 billion dirhams in 201 countries, including about 206 billion and 34 million dirhams (56.14 billion US dollars) during the period from 2010 to 2021.
Throughout these long years, the UAE has succeeded in making a difference in the field of humanitarian work, which has translated on the ground by occupying for many years the first place in the world as the largest donor of foreign aid in the world in relation to its national income.