In the old Bur Hoaz neighbourhood of central Abu Dhabi, Mohammed Noor Al Khoury is always the first to raise the flag above his house.
His two-storey flag was unfurled in October, a week before Flag Day and a full month before his neighbours will begin to think about National Day celebrations on December 2.
"We've always done this," says Mr Al Khoury, 78, when asked about Flag Day, which will be marked on Thursday.
“Since the establishment of this country, I have always hung the flag.”
Flag Day has more recent origins.
Celebrations began in 2013 after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, called for a national Flag Day on November 3, to mark the accession of Sheikh Khalifa as president.
Even draping multi-storey flags from rooftops is a new tradition, sparked during celebrations for the country's 40th anniversary in 2011 by a young Emirati, Hasan Al Mazrouei, who launched the Twitter campaign "Fog Baitna Alam", or 'A Flag Above Our House'.
Of course, Mr Al Khoury has always been ahead of his time. He says his driving school, Al Nasr Driving, was the capital’s first when he opened it 42 years ago. He is still a master at the wheel. “I can drive a trailer,” he says.
“I have great vision. Look at how old I am and I don’t wear glasses. Even my daughter, she wears glasses.”
It is not just the transition to modernity that brought Mr Al Khoury profit, but the symbol of a modern country - the flag itself.
Mr Al Khoury and his brother, Abdullatif, opened the One Dirham Shop together 18 years ago and sell “five or six thousand” flags for occasions like National Day.
It is one of the many businesses he has run in his lifetime, first as a grocer in Madinat Zayed, where he was raised, and later as trader in Al Ain.
“People didn’t work for just one company like nowadays,” says Mr Al Khoury.
Seven flags hang from the walls and gates of house of Mr Al Khoury, drawing attention to its lush garden and his pet chickens, which roam free but know never to cross the road. In this house, built on land to his family given by the government 32 years ago, Mr Al Khoury and his wife have raised 13 children.
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Read more:
Raise the UAE flag with dignity or risk fines and jail time, say officials
Ten facts about the UAE flag ahead of Flag Day celebrations
Labour of love: Emirati grandmother hand stitches UAE flags to show her patriotism
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Elsewhere in Abu Dhabi, companies and schools were preparing for Flag Day events, which mark an early the start of National Day celebrations.
“Today it’s starting,” says Abdulaziz Diaf, the manager of Chocolate Boutique. His sweet shop is one of several trying to capitalise on Flag Day. Three-kilogram platters of chocolates wrapped in the colours of the UAE flag are selling slowly but the season has just begun.
At Technical Scissors, one of the largest national tailoring companies for military uniforms, Flag Day starts a lucrative month as dozens of requests for children's military customs are made every day.
As for flags, their order for the patriotic season will arrive on Flag Day itself, with 550 pieces of four by two metre flags, retailing for a total of Dh30,250.
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
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German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Cryopreservation: A timeline
- Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
- Ovarian tissue surgically removed
- Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
- Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
- Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
500 People from Gaza enter France
115 Special programme for artists
25 Evacuation of injured and sick
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US' most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was first created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out projectiles, namely ballistic missiles, as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles both inside and outside of the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 93 miles above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then deployed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
Essentials
The flights: You can fly from the UAE to Iceland with one stop in Europe with a variety of airlines. Return flights with Emirates from Dubai to Stockholm, then Icelandair to Reykjavik, cost from Dh4,153 return. The whole trip takes 11 hours. British Airways flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Reykjavik, via London, with return flights taking 12 hours and costing from Dh2,490 return, including taxes.
The activities: A half-day Silfra snorkelling trip costs 14,990 Icelandic kronur (Dh544) with Dive.is. Inside the Volcano also takes half a day and costs 42,000 kronur (Dh1,524). The Jokulsarlon small-boat cruise lasts about an hour and costs 9,800 kronur (Dh356). Into the Glacier costs 19,500 kronur (Dh708). It lasts three to four hours.
The tours: It’s often better to book a tailor-made trip through a specialist operator. UK-based Discover the World offers seven nights, self-driving, across the island from £892 (Dh4,505) per person. This includes three nights’ accommodation at Hotel Husafell near Into the Glacier, two nights at Hotel Ranga and two nights at the Icelandair Hotel Klaustur. It includes car rental, plus an iPad with itinerary and tourist information pre-loaded onto it, while activities can be booked as optional extras. More information inspiredbyiceland.com
