The UAE celebrates the nation’s 40th National Day this weekend and we took to the streets of Abu Dhabi to find out what this day means to you

 

Name: Osama Ghonaim
From: Egypt Age: 38
Been in Abu Dhabi? Two days
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It will be such an enjoyable day. I will come to watch the party on the Corniche.

Name: Mohammed Al Rashid
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 22
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It’s such a special day. I will decorate my car with the UAE colours and drive up and down the Corniche.

Name: Abdulla Mohammed
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 19
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It means a day to be proud of our country. I will drive my car on the Corniche with my friends.

Name: Kalifa Mohammed
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 21
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? A day to celebrate the union of our country. I will celebrate by driving on the Corniche with my family and friends.

Name: Ahmed Dawa
From: Palestine
Age: 23
Been in Abu Dhabi? All my life
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I will have a lot of fun on that day. I will go to the Corniche with all the other guys to take part in the parade.

Name: Rita Doherty
From: Ireland Age: I am in my 50s
Been in Abu Dhabi? I am just on holidays visiting my daughter
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? When you look back over the last 40 years, the development has been phenomenal. I’m delighted to be here.

Name: Zahid Habib
From: Pakistan
Age: 27
Been in Abu Dhabi? Six years
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? We will come to the Corniche to enjoy this day with the locals. They will be happy on this day and so will we. We get good jobs and lots of respect in this country so we will celebrate with the Emiratis.

Name: Anna Grant
From: UK
Age: 26
Been in Abu Dhabi? Four days
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I’m here visiting a friend so I won’t be around for it which is a shame. I’m disappointed to miss the celebrations.

Name: Alsami Hana
From: Egypt
Age: 30
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I get the day off! I like when the country is celebrating. It is always great to take part in the UAE National Day activities.

Name: Saleh Nashed
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 27
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I will be so happy on that day. We will celebrate for 40 days, not just one or two days. It’s a major event for us. I will be at the Corniche with my family.

Name: Laura Oxley
From: Kent, England
Age: 31
Been in Abu Dhabi? Two years
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It’s a day of celebration. We’ll be on the Corniche to watch the parade.

Name: Aida Taha
From: Jordan
Been in Abu Dhabi? I came in 1976 so around 35 years
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I will go out and celebrate with the local people. I have witnessed many
National Days. I remember the army used to have a parade on that day, in the 1980s.

Name: Hanan Saeed (right)
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 22
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? Celebration time! It reminds us of our father Sheikh Zayed.

Name: Shamsa Saeed (above left)
From: UAE
Age: 25
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It’s a special day. I will come to the Corniche with my family on that day.

Name: Mohammed Mubarak Salem (right)
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 47
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I grew up during this union. The 40th National Day means so much to me. I raised my children to have great respect for this occasion. We will remember Sheikh Zayed.

Name: Hamid Kadam (above left)
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 23
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It’s such an important day in my life. I love this day because we will come together like one family. All of the Emirates will join in celebration.

Name: Ben Gonzales
From: Philippines
Age: 29
Been in Abu Dhabi? Over two years
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? Aside from the fact that it’s a holiday, it’s a celebration of the UAE becoming a nation and all the emirates coming together into one country.

Name: Duane McKenzie
From: Canada
Age: 35
Been in Abu Dhabi? Four and a half years
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It’s a time of pride and celebration for the Emiraties. For me it’s also a very welcoming time. As an expat I feel so at home here in Abu Dhabi. I feel proud that I made the decision to come here.

Name: Shabeel Kannanthody
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 27
Been in Abu Dhabi? Most of my life
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It will mean lots of lights, enjoyment, streets packed with people, traffic, fire crackers and fireworks.

Name: Yesha Apotal
From: Philippines
Age: 31
Been in Abu Dhabi? I have only been here for three weeks
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It’s Arab day! It’s going to be my first national day here in Abu Dhabi so I’m looking forward to seeing the city all lit up.

Name: Eptisam Mohammed
From: Egypt
Age: 36
Been in Abu Dhabi? 13 years
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? On that day, I will come to the Corniche with my husband, Ahmad Jamal, and my children.

Name: Meera Al Muhaire (right)
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 40
Been in Abu Dhabi?All my life
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I will go to the Corniche. The people will be so happy on that special day. I am looking forward to watching the fireworks.

Name: Galia Al Hamedey (above left)
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 30
Been in Abu Dhabi? Always
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I will go to my son’s school for a party. All the schools here will have parties on that day. I will go to the Corniche with my children to watch the cars and see all the beautiful lights.

Name: Jo Merritt
From: Scotland
Age: 43
Been in Abu Dhabi? I am only here for three weeks. I’m just out working.
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It doesn’t mean a lot to me because I won’t be here for it, but I was in Abu Dhabi last December and I came to watch the fireworks display. I really enjoyed it.

Name: Letham Ahmad Abulaie
From: Palestine
Age: 40
Been in Abu Dhabi? One year
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I work a lot here but I will still watch the celebrations.

Name: Chris McHardy
From: Aberdeen, Scotland
Age: 25
Been in Abu Dhabi? 15 months
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I’m not from here so it doesn’t mean a lot to me. I heard that it was an amazing, massive party last year. It’s just a shame that I had to work and missed it!

Name: Riki Arain
From: Pakistan
Age: I’m 24 but I only look 18, right?
Been in Abu Dhabi? 16 years
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It means a time of celebration and enjoyment. You have total freedom on that day to just be happy.

Name: Janna Wissenz
From: Canada
Age: 29
Been in Abu Dhabi: Three months
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It’s an opportunity to celebrate living in the UAE. I’m really looking forward to taking part in the National Day event with my new Emirati friends.

Name: Denise Trowsdale
From: British Columbia, Canada
Been in Abu Dhabi? Three years
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It means that I get to understand the culture of the UAE. I enjoy celebrating with the Emiratis on this their special day.

Name: Janice Knapp
From: Nova Scotia, Canada
Age: 36
Been in Abu Dhabi? I am here visiting.
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It means celebrating such a young birthday for such a progressive country.

Name: Arwa Abdulla
From: Abu Dhabi
Age: 22
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It’s a once-a-year celebration. We decorate our cars and our homes. We put up flags. Some people will watch the parade. I’m a photographer so I will stand by taking photos that capture people’s expressions on this day.

Name: Jeanne –Claire Gordon
From: New Zealand
Age: Eight
Been in Abu Dhabi? One year
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? It’s when we celebrate how the UAE became a country.

Name: Mika Gordon (right)
From: New Zealand
Age: 11
Been in Abu Dhabi? One year
What does the 40th National Day mean to you? I get to experience a different culture, especially on that day. In New Zealand we have the haka and poi, but here they have henna and wear abayas.

Name: Melodie Minty
From: UK
Age: 58
Been in Abu Dhabi? 18 years
What does National Day mean to you? I was here for the 21st celebrations, one of the first times Abu Dhabi had a big fireworks display on the Corniche! I met my husband in the UAE and my daughter was born here so it will always have a special place in my heart.