By EDD K. USMAN
Twitter: @edd1819, Instagram: @bluestar0910, Facebook: SDN — Science, Digital & Current Affairs
ON December 2, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated its Founding Anniversary, the 48th National Day.
In the Philippines, the UAE Embassy-Manila led by Ambassador Hamad Saeed Al-Zaabi led the festivities, which was duplicated across the world where the Arab federation has a diplomatic mission.
The UAE 48th Foundation Day came amid the Federation’s hectic preparations for the Expo 2020 Dubai to be held on October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021. Countdown for the World Expo, projected to become the globe’s biggest party on Earth, started on October 20, 2019.
Comprising the UAE Federation are Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Ras Al-Khaimah, and Umm Al-Quawain.
Dignitaries who joined the celebration included Assistant Secretary Leslie J. Baja, head of the Office on Middle East and African Affairs (OMEAA) at the Department of Foreign Affairs.
From the Diplomatic Corps, Italian Archbishop Gabriele Giordano Caccia, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines (Vatican ambassador), Saudi Arabia Ambassador Abdullah N.A. Al-Bussairy, Sultanate of Oman Ambassador Munther Mahfoodh Al-Mantheri, Myanmar Ambassador Lwin Oo, and other diplomats the Emirate envoy in the celebration.
International Labor Organization (ILO)-Manila Director Khalid Hassan participated in the observance of the UAE Federation’s 4th Founding Anniversary.
The late UAE President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, along with other leaders, founded the UAE Federation on December 2, 1971.
Other dignitaries who attended the event at the Makati Shangri-La, Manila, in Makati City, Metro Manila, were Oman Air District Manager for the Philippines Salah Al-Balushi, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary for Special Operations Group and Trade Promotions Abdulgani Macatoman, Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) Administrator/CEO Abdulghani “Gerry” Salapuddin, and others.
From the local Arab community, those came included Skills International, Inc. Chairman of the Board Maher Daas, Fil-Arab Alliance for Socio-Economic Development Chairman of the Board of Trustees Dr. Jamal Abdul Nasser Tanifeh, etc.
Here’s the 4th UAE National Day in Manila in photograpsh:
To be updated.