UAE to celebrate Flag Day on Tuesday: History, colours and rules for displaying the national flag

UAE Flag Day is set for Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with the national flag flying from government buildings, schools, universities, homes and workplaces. Citizens and residents are encouraged to come together to celebrate the country's unity and national identity.

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, called for citizens and residents to raise the flag across the seven emirates. In a post on X, he described Flag Day as a national occasion celebrating love, pride and loyalty to the UAE, emphasizing the symbolic value of the flag representing the country's sovereignty and founding leaders' values.

First raised on December 2, 1971, by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE flag was designed by Abdullah Mohammed Al Maeena, inspired by a verse by the Arab poet Safi Al Din Al Hilli. The flag's design, governed by Federal Law No. 2 of 1971, features a vertical red band, three equal horizontal bands of green, white and black, and adheres to specific proportions.

Flag Day's colours carry distinct meanings: red honors sacrifices and martyrs, green represents growth and prosperity, white symbolizes generosity and peace, and black denotes strength and resilience. The flag must be displayed clean and properly ironed, without touching the ground, and with correct proportions. Adding logos or decorative elements is prohibited, except for the official presidential flag. Outdoor flagpoles should be white, and the size of the flag should be appropriate for its location.