Happy UAE Flag Day! Today is a day that’s all about honouring the country’s flag, which was created in 1971 when the UAE was formed.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has asked that all residents raise their flags at noon today to mark the day that Sheikh Khalifa was sworn in as President of the UAE after the death of his father, Sheikh Zayed.

Schools, companies and organisations across the country have planned events in honour of the day, so keep an eye out as you travel around the emirates today.

But, so that you can celebrate from your desk too, here are 15 photos that show Flag Day being celebrated in the UAE and beyond (and have made us feel very patriotic about our adopted home):

1. The UAE flag flutters at Everest Base Camp in the Himalayas.

2. Emirati lads from the Intisaar Foundation get creative in the making of their flag (Intisaar is a a community project run by InnerFight that helps Emirati youths get fit in order to discover their full potential).

intisaar

3. In Sheikh Zayed’s words, “red symbolises the sacrifices of previous generations who laid the foundations for the Union… Green symbolises growth, prosperity, and cultural renaissance… White displays the nation’s charitable contributions and support for security and peace in the world… while black reflects the strength of Emiratis, and their rejection of injustice and extremism.”

4. If you head down to Kite Beach today you’ll find hundreds upon hundreds of fluttering UAE flags (which is Instagram gold dust).

Happy Flag day UAE دمتي عالية يا الإمارات #uae#instauae#flagday

A photo posted by @_rasho0od on

5. DEWA is celebrating Flag Day in one of the most glorious ways possible – cupcakes.

 

Part Of DEWA’S #uaeflagday2015 #uaeflagday #uae @dewaofficial ❤️

 

A photo posted by Hamda AlAli (@hamdaalali) on

6. And here’s a flag-themed breakfast (all these food shots are making our tummy rumble: that labneh looks so good right now).

7. A flag is raised this morning near Emirates Towers.

UAE Flag Day – يوم العلم

A photo posted by Yacob Ahli (@yacobahli) on

8. Flag Day nail art – we’re genuinely impressed by that tiny camel.

9. The DIFC Gate building looks particularly majestic this morning.

F L A G . D A Y ‼️

A photo posted by @yazaa3 on

10. Flag day stationery (Milton from Office Space would be furious).

11. Flag Day abs are making us feel pathetic for the fact we have to give up after 20 seconds of a plank.

12. Flag Day coffee art (which certainly trumps the standard love heart latte).

13. This illustration reminds us of the man who began it all.

14. And, naturally, Nasser Al Neyadi from XDubai celebrated Flag Day in the coolest way possible.

 

#UAE#Dubai✨ #flag Day

 

A photo posted by Nasser Al Neyadi (@fazzasky3) on

15. While even the Dubai Mall silver surfers are celebrating.

#uaeflagday #uae #mydubai #dubai @mydubai @the_dubaimall @dubaimalls @kgdubai

A photo posted by Khalil Ghadri (@khalilghadri) on

Happy Flag Day! For more awesome UAE photos, check out these 21 snaps that prove that Sheikh Hamdan is the world’s most athletic royal. 

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