UAE announces Zayed the Founder Day and Flag Day observances

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has established ‘Zayed the Founder Day’, a new annual national occasion to be observed every January 7, beginning in 2027. The date commemorates the seven emirates uniting as one nation and evokes the year 1971, when the Union was established. The day aims to honor the life, legacy, and values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Founding Father, through year-round initiatives in education, culture, and community engagement.

Separately, the UAE is preparing for Flag Day on November 3. Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has called on all citizens, residents, and institutions across the seven emirates to raise the national flag. The occasion marks the anniversary of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan becoming President in 2004. While a significant national moment of pride and unity, Flag Day is not an official public holiday for the private or public sectors.