People across the UAE have been marking the official holidays of National Day and Commemoration Day. Although these two collective moments may be different in focus and tone, they share an important theme: unity.
Indeed, the 53rd anniversary of the UAE’s foundation is known as Eid Al Etihad – the festival of unity. Much has been achieved in the space of a few generations, from navigating the challenges of unification to wisely using the nation’s natural resources to build a modern state that can include space travel among its many accomplishments. Throughout this national journey, the vital ingredient to creating this compelling, stable and successful country has been unity.
The first step was the political unification of the emirates in this part of the Arabian Peninsula in the early 1970s. Over the subsequent decades, a culture of unity was fostered that on one hand treasures the Arab and Islamic heritage native to the country but also embraces tolerance and coexistence, two indispensable values for a country that invited people from all over the world to come and contribute to the national project.
Fostering unity among people in times of stability and success is important, but having a national ethos that is humane also helps to foster togetherness among those for whom life may have taken an unwanted turn. The UAE’s insistence that people deserve a second chance was once again highlighted by President Sheikh Mohamed’s decision on Wednesday to order the release of almost 2,270 prisoners ahead of Eid Al Etihad. Similarly, an official decision to forgive debts worth more than Dh401 million will allow over 1,270 citizens to begin again with a clean slate. Such gestures are one of the country’s strengths.
It is important to remember, however, that the achievements being celebrated on Eid Al Etihad have not come without cost. Protecting the country has been the primary duty of the UAE Armed Forces; from day one, soldiers from the Emirates have been putting their lives on the line. Indeed, Commemoration Day – introduced by the late President Sheikh Khalifa in 2015 – was initially established to commemorate Salem Suhail bin Khamis, who died on November 30, 1971, while fighting against invading forces on the island of Greater Tunb.
The UAE of 2024 is a diverse, cosmopolitan place but its core values – those being celebrated over this long weekend – are the glue that binds it together
Saturday’s Commemoration Day was a poignant moment for Emirati families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. At Abu Dhabi’s Wahat Al Karama memorial, the families of 18 members of the armed forces were honoured with the Martyr Medal in recognition of their sacrifices. Sheikh Mohamed led the tributes, emphasising the “enduring gratitude” the country felt for those who “uphold the safety, security and integrity of our beloved nation”.
This year is also the 10th anniversary of the introduction of national service. As well as equipping the next generation of Emiratis with the skills needed to defend their country, this programme has also built a bond between families, the military and the state. Such unity is crucial to fostering a sense of collective endeavour and an appreciation of the sacrifices that members of the armed forces are called to make in doing their duty. As such, Commemoration Day compels us to recall the many veterans of the UAE armed forces injured in the line of duty, and the ongoing efforts to support their families and their individual rehabilitation.
If unity has been the cornerstone of the Emirates’ beginning, it continues to be the light guiding the nation to the future. The UAE of 2024 is a diverse, cosmopolitan country but its core values – those being celebrated over this long weekend – are the glue that binds it together. Unity is the recognition that what we achieve, we achieve together.
Basquiat in Abu Dhabi
One of Basquiat’s paintings, the vibrant Cabra (1981–82), now hangs in Louvre Abu Dhabi temporarily, on loan from the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
The latter museum is not open physically, but has assembled a collection and puts together a series of events called Talking Art, such as this discussion, moderated by writer Chaedria LaBouvier.
It's something of a Basquiat season in Abu Dhabi at the moment. Last week, The Radiant Child, a documentary on Basquiat was shown at Manarat Al Saadiyat, and tonight (April 18) the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is throwing the re-creation of a party tonight, of the legendary Canal Zone party thrown in 1979, which epitomised the collaborative scene of the time. It was at Canal Zone that Basquiat met prominent members of the art world and moved from unknown graffiti artist into someone in the spotlight.
“We’ve invited local resident arists, we’ll have spray cans at the ready,” says curator Maisa Al Qassemi of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi's Canal Zone Remix is at Manarat Al Saadiyat, Thursday April 18, from 8pm. Free entry to all. Basquiat's Cabra is on view at Louvre Abu Dhabi until October
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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The five pillars of Islam
What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
