By Union Day 1973, the UAE, born just two years earlier, was well on the way to maturity as a country.
Many of the symbols and institutions familiar today arrived over 50 years ago, from currency and postage stamps to the legal system.
Pride in what had been achieved in such a short period of time was expressed in the Union Day parade along the Abu Dhabi Corniche which featured floats honouring health workers, and milestones like the Maqta Bridge as well as massed marchers in the colours of the UAE flag.
The year ended with the formation of the country’s second Cabinet, which would serve for three years.
Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid remained Prime Minister, but was joined by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed, later second President of the UAE, as Deputy Prime Minister.
The number of Cabinet posts was increased by four to 30, with new responsibilities including Islamic Affairs and Water.
In November 1973 the creation of another institution further formalised the status of the union. The Federal Supreme Court established the supremacy of the Constitution and gave it priority over laws and decisions made by individual emirates.
These landmark decisions gave the new country stability in a year of turmoil on the international stage, dominated by the October War and the oil embargo by Arab states.
With the world at one point apparently brought to the brink of nuclear war by the conflict, the US was increasingly distracted by the Watergate scandal, which would bring down President Richard Nixon the following year.
What could you buy with a dirham in 1973 - in pictures
For most people, though, life went on, enjoying films like The Sting, and American Graffiti starring a youthful Harrison Ford or humming tunes such as Crocodile Rock by Elton John or Steve Wonder’s You Are the Sunshine of My Life.
In the shops, people were able to buy their Union Day flags and badges with the new dirham currency, which had replaced the previously used Bahrain dinar and Qatar riyal.
Introduced in May 1973, the currency used the notes and coins familiar today, although with different designs. There were six banknotes, ranging from Dh1 to Dh1,000.
The single dirham was also issued as a coin, albeit a larger and heavier version than those used today. The Dh1 note would be phased out several years later.
What has changed is the purchasing power of the dirham. As a result of inflation, a Dh100 purchase then would require Dh700 today.
The year began with another significant step towards national unity. On January 1, 1973, the first federal postage stamps arrived, ending the issue of stamps by individual emirates, a practice in place since the early 1960s.
The first five fils stamp featured the UAE flag in a circular sweeping design superimposed over the country’s outline.
Others from the first issue pictured landmarks from each of the seven emirates, while the Dh10 and highest value honoured UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the First President.
During the year, more series would be issued, marking everything from the Ninth Arab Petroleum Conference, to International Literacy Day, and the National Youth Festival in March.
Union Day 1973, previously known as National Day, included another now-familiar symbol of the UAE for the first time. The golden Hawk of Quraish was adopted as the country’s official symbol in December, featuring seven tail feathers representing the seven emirates.
It appears on official documents and passports, with only one amendment in 50 years, when the original badge on the hawk’s breast was changed in 2008 from a sailing dhow to the UAE flag.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
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In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff
The%20Roundup
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Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
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Rating: 4/5
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Main camera: 12MP wide, f/1.8, digital zoom up to 5x, Smart HDR 4
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The bio
Date of Birth: April 25, 1993
Place of Birth: Dubai, UAE
Marital Status: Single
School: Al Sufouh in Jumeirah, Dubai
University: Emirates Airline National Cadet Programme and Hamdan University
Job Title: Pilot, First Officer
Number of hours flying in a Boeing 777: 1,200
Number of flights: Approximately 300
Hobbies: Exercising
Nicest destination: Milan, New Zealand, Seattle for shopping
Least nice destination: Kabul, but someone has to do it. It’s not scary but at least you can tick the box that you’ve been
Favourite place to visit: Dubai, there’s no place like home
Omar Yabroudi's factfile
Born: October 20, 1989, Sharjah
Education: Bachelor of Science and Football, Liverpool John Moores University
2010: Accrington Stanley FC, internship
2010-2012: Crystal Palace, performance analyst with U-18 academy
2012-2015: Barnet FC, first-team performance analyst/head of recruitment
2015-2017: Nottingham Forest, head of recruitment
2018-present: Crystal Palace, player recruitment manager
Specs
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
