Glorious 44th year

ABU DHABI--Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and in the presence of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Their Highnesses Members of Supreme Council and The Rulers of Emirates, Crown Princes and Deputy Rulers, attended this evening the official ceremony of the 44th national day anniversary, held in Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi.

H.H. Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Qaiwain, and H.H. Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras al The event was also attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance, H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, H.H. Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, H.H. Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Qaiwain, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras al-Khaimah, and Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco.

Among others present were H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, Dr. Amal Abdullah Al Qubaisi, Speaker of Federal National Council (FNC), H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler s Representative in the Eastern Region, H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, H.H.Sheikh Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Advisor, Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, H.H. Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler s Representative, H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, H.H. Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, H.H. Sheikh Omar bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, H.H. Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organisation for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs (ZHO), H.H. Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Executive Council Member, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Transport Department, a number of Sheikhs, ministers, senior commanders of the armed forces and of the Ministry of Interior, and the families of the martyrs and relatives.

Their Highnesses Members of Supreme Council, The Rulers of Emirates, Crown Princes and Deputy Rulers congratulated President Khalifa on the occasion, wishing him good health to continue the comprehensive sustainable development. They also expressed their pride about the development course of the UAE president.

The ceremony opened with the arrival of the King of Morocco, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Mohamed bin Zayed, Their Highnesses Members of Supreme Council, The Rulers of Emirates. The celebrations featured the authentic UAE heritage and traditions, and highlighted the major UAE achievements in the present and the past. They also highlighted the role of the founding fathers, the late Sheikh Zayed and the Rulers in gathering the tribes and unifying them to establish the Union.

During the celebrations, the huge deep-rooted al Ghaf tree was demonstrated to symbolize the Union. They also featured the challenges being faced by Emiratis and how they could overcome them.

The ceremony highlighted the themes of allegiance, self-denial, loyalty, solidarity, cohesion between the leadership and the people of the UAE, and national pride. Poems were recited in the love of the nation.