“Union is strength and division is weakness”, a saying we all hear from a young age, but we cannot comprehend the amount of struggle endured by the founding fathers to realize this concept.
Thanks to the efforts of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, God rest his soul, on December 2, 1971, this saying took shape in reality, and the Arab Emirates united under one flag.
Every year on this day, the UAE’s tourist and historical landmarks are adorned, and loud celebrations are held in the streets, to commemorate this achievement, with each expressing his joy in his own way, raising flags and singing old chants that flow in the soul as the blood runs through our veins.
Furthermore, the celebration of the 51st National Day coincides with the celebration of Martyr’s Day. On November 30, 1971, the blood of the first martyr watered the sand of our beloved homeland, and on that day, preferring to give his life rather than see the flag fall, martyr Salem Suhail Khamis fell in defense of our dear homeland during his service on the island of Tunb.
Back in August 2015, the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, God rest his soul, made November 30th of each year a holiday commemorating the valiant martyrs who defended the homeland, and during his reign, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, ordered the establishment of a special office within the Crown Prince’s Court for handling the affairs the families of the martyrs and the care of their children.
For her part, Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, “Mother of the Emirates”, named every hall of the General Women’s Union “Shahid al Watan” (Martyr of the Homeland), establishing the Martyrs Archive under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the Council Ministers and Minister of Presidential Affairs, in addition to a museum dedicated to telling the immortal stories of the martyrs, in addition, the UAE’s wise leadership has commemorated the memory of these heroes by constructing “Wahat Al Karama” (the Oasis of Dignity).
On the 51st National Day, we pledge to our leaders and martyrs, that we will remain faithful to our homeland and determined to raise the flag of the nation, preserving its land and its gains, forever answering its call, standing steadfast as heroes on every front.
Whenever the UAE calls we will answer the call chanting “Live my country, the unity of our Emirates lives, you have lived for a nation, whose religion is Islam and guide is Quran, I made you stronger in God’s name oh homeland.
