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The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) organized an extensive festive program to celebrate the UAE’s 43rd National Day. The program began with a student parade around the campus lead by His Excellency Dr. Ali Rashid Al Noaimi, Vice Chancellor of UAEU. The students demonstrated their loyalty and love for their homeland and its leaders.

The festive program included academic and administrative activities designed to celebrate this historic day. It allowed all of the university family to express their loyalty and gratitude to the leaders of the UAE.

The celebration included a heritage exhibition symbolizing the culture and heritage of the UAE; the most important folklore and also art which reflected the UAE’s traditions. There was a musical operetta presented and composed by Fayez Al Saeed, the UAE’s musical ambassador, with lyrics written by UAEU student Zayed Al Maseeri. The vocals were by another student, Abdul Rahman Al Junied, who was accompanied by Yola and other folk dances.

A National poetry evening was also held to celebrate the 43^rd National Day, with the participation of a group of Emirati poets: Ali Qahtani, Rashid Al Ahbabi, Rashid Al Matrooshi and Ahmad Al Manai from the university poetry club. Their national heritage poems touched on the history of the UAE. As poetry has a special place in Emirati life it is a way of sincerely expressing their thoughts.

The exhibition included a heritage village with a fine arts gallery and a photography exhibition about life in the past in the UAE. In addition there was a handicrafts exhibition which aimed to help in the maintenance of the national identity and the strengthening of that identity.

The Al Foah School for Basic Education in Al Ain also participated in the National Day celebrations. The school students presented folklore shows and an exhibition on the heritage of the UAE. They displayed old rugs and appliances used in traditional UAE households and presented some old proverbs and their meanings to life in the UAE.

The celebration concluded with two concerts in the crescent building and in the University Social Club. The feelings of pride mixed with songs of gratitude to the leaders of the country embodied the spirit of the union and reinforced the values of loyalty and patriotism.