UAE citizens are currently preparing for celebrations due on Tuesday to mark the Gulf State National Day, decorating public places with the national flag and colorful decorative items. Public places, government buildings and landmark sites have been adorned with the national flag and the Vice President and Dubai Ruler, Sheikh Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, has ordered closure of all government departments and ministries on December 2-7 for holding continuous celebrations throughout the five days.
UAE citizens celebrate the national occasion proudly, having succeeded in turning their country into a lucrative hub for tourists and businesses. They particularly recall the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nuhayyan, who spearheaded unification of the neighboring emirates into a single well-respected state. At first, six emirates formed the UAE, but later, on February 10th, 1971, Ras Al-Khaimah joined the federation.
It consists of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah; each unique in its own way and complementing to the rich heritage and culture of the UAE.
Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed repeatedly affirms that the federal state main objective is to make the people of the UAE among the happiest nations, and stresses on keenness of maintaining its unity.
The UAE people have made strides at various levels, modernizing their country, an achievement viewed with existence of many state-of-art buildings, facilities, road networks and other transport means. Latest to be built is the metro network.
While Dubai is renowned for businesses, tourism and entertainment, Sharjah has become a center for regional cultural and intellectual activities The UAE adopts an open-door policy, hosting more than 200 foreign and Arab communities, living under umbrella of laws, basic norms and principles, namely respect for peoples of all religions and cultures.
The country hosts more than eight million people, with the UAE citizens constituting some 16 percent of the whole population. It is the seventh globally with respect of crude oil reserves, the 22nd with top monetary and banking systems and the second as to purchasing power per capita.
Its gross domestic product is estimated at 1,025.7 billion dirham per year. One USD is traded at 0.27 to the dirham.
The National Day, celebrated on December 2 each year, marks the UAE's formal independence from Britain on December 1, 1971 and the eventual, federal unification of the seven emirates.