Abu Dhabi: The UAE is sharing the festive spirit of the Saudi National Day (September 23), with fireworks, airfare discounts, concerts, decked up streets and malls, as well in the digital realm.
The 87th National Day of the sister Gulf nation is being commemorated with two-day celebrations across the UAE, from Friday.
Fireworks displays will adorn the skies of Dubai in several spots, including Riverland in Dubai Parks and Resorts, Dubai Creek, and Dubai Festival City.
Pop stars
Arab pop starts, too, are sharing in the celebration, with concerts by Balqees, Dalia Mubarak, Waed, and Rakan Khaled taking place in Dubai on Friday and Saturday.
The UAE is even taking the festive spirit to the cyber sphere, with an Arabic hashtag which translates to Together_Forever, which produces an emoji of Saudi King Salman and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman.
Users of UAE-based telecommunications providers, Etisalat and du, were treated to a hint of the festive spirit ahead of time, as the message UAE KSA TOGETHER appeared atop their mobile phone screens.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, congratulated “all our brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on their 87th National Day”.
Shaikh Mohammad prayed to Almighty Allah on Twitter to “bring glory on the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince”.
Congratulations to our brothers in KSA on their 87th National Day; our countries share a cherished partnership and their joy is our joy. pic.twitter.com/jyT0IIYY58
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) September 20, 2017
فرحة المملكة بيومهم الوطني هي فرحة لدولة الإمارات وشعبها .. حفظ الله المملكة وملكها وشعبها الكريم pic.twitter.com/7jDenH39ta
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) September 20, 2017
Common interests
Using the hashtag, Shaikh Mohammad said: “Together_Forever Saudi Arabia and the UAE, their success is our success, their country is our country and their ruler is our pride. Together forever in fate, in the service of Islam and in defence of our nations.”
Abdullah Bin Bijad, a Saudi columnist, said the Saudi-UAE ties run deep in history — good neighbours have become good friends, and good friends become great brothers in the good and bad times.
Bijad said the UAE and Saudi Arabia share common interests and pursue common goals, on ensuring that the relationship thrives, and that the safety and security of all of the nations of the Gulf Cooperation Council is paramount.
“Together, Saudi Arabia and the UAE stand united, celebrating the commonalities and ties that bind. They share common goals, a vision of progress, outward looking perspectives that ensure that GCC interests are protected,” he said.
In the words of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad, “The UAE-Saudi Arabian relations are deep-rooted and surpass traditional diplomatic ties. They are like one body.”
Mohammad Al Tonsi, a Saudi analyst and editor-in-chief of Abu Dhabi-based Arabic daily Al Roaya, said the two nations share the same vision, careful to ensure that the safety of all is secured.
And together, the UAE and Saudi Arabia stand in tandem, aware of the forces of intolerance and extremism that threaten the region.
Whether it be Al Qaida or Daesh — or any other threat that undermines peace and security — together the UAE and Saudi Arabia communicate, cooperate, condemn and act.
As part of the celebrations, visitors from Saudi Arabia will be welcomed with sweets, flowers and gifts on arrival at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday.
Events
On Saturday, residents and visitors can watch fireworks near Dubai Creek at 8.30pm, while malls and popular family attractions in the emirate will also join in the celebrations by hosting events and activities, including a Saudi National Day show, an Imagine show and a Lego Bricks Festival at Dubai Festival City and the distribution of Saudi national flags to visitors at Dragon Mart 2.
Dubai Parks and Resorts is organising a number of activities for families and children including the distribution of balloons for children and a fireworks show at Riverland on Friday at 9pm.
Earlier this year, two joint retreats between the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia were held in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh where over 150 government officials and a number of experts in the public and private sectors met to discuss the critical issues of the day.
$1 trillion: Combined GDP
Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, said both nations had a combined GDP of $1 trillion, which is the biggest in the Middle East, and their exports rank fourth worldwide, at $713 billion.
