By EDD K. USMAN
Twitter: @edd1819, Instagram: @bluestar0910, Facebook: Science, Digital & Current News
(SDN) — NOW 48th years old, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is searching for a country brand logo it will use for its next 50 years.
The UAE, a federation of seven emirates founded on December 2, 1971, is making the search through a competition involving three logos, each with distinct characteristics closely tied with the Arab nation.
UAE, founded by the late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his fellow leaders of the other emirates, also called sheikdoms, is comprised of Abu Dhabi (the capital), Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwwain, and Ras Al-Khaimah.
News reports from Emirates news organizations showed UAE Vice President and Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Crown Prince and Deputy Commander of the Armed Forces Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed have called on residents to choose and vote for the logo they want to represent the Emirates for the next 18,250 days.
Citizens of other countries are also allowed to vote for the UAE Brand Logo. (This journalist voted for the logo with the seven lines because it seems to be the most representative of the history and people of the Emirates.)
Here are the three logos to choose from:
The Dubai ruler started off the vote when he post on Twitter a video that carried the three designs, even as he prompted the Emirates people to visit the logos’ website: http://nationbrand.ae and let their voice be heard, per The National newspaper.
He promised that for every vote a tree will be planted, linking the vote to an environmental activity.
“We are launching a new brand for the UAE to share the story of our nation with the rest of the world. We invite everyone to be part of choosing the logo that will represent our country for the next 50 years on nationbrand.ae. For every vote, we will plant a tree,” said Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed.
Among the winning logo’s uses include for campaigns, marketing, spreading the image of the Emirates abroad.
“I invite everyone to take part in choosing the UAE Nation Brand Logo that will be the symbol of nation that strives to be the best in the world,” the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi said in a tweet.
Obviously, the UAE leadership will start using the winning logo after the Golden Jubilee of the Emirates on December 2, 2021.
Meanwhile, the UAE has another mammoth event and celebrations starting on October 20, 2020 as it kicks off the Expo 2020 Dubai (World Expo). The UAE expects more or less 190 countries participating and a gigantic volume of visitors projected to reach 25 million for the six-month activity.
The Expo 2020 Dubai will end on April 10, 2021.
Participating countries include the Philippines. Each of the country will have its own pavilion at the location in Jebel Ali Dubai.
In Manila, Emirati Ambassador to the Philippines Hamad Saeed Al-Zaabi has been promoting the Expo 2020 Dubai as he hosted the launch of the one-year countdown.
He said expected at the World Expo are leaders of the world, including Kings, Queens, Presidents, and Prime Ministers, among others. Al-Zaabi said President Rodrigo R. Duterte is expected to attend the opening.
Another newspaper, the Gulf News, reported that voting for the logo started on December 17. As of the said date, 1.5 million people cast their votes coming from 2,000 cities in 130 countries.
Of the votes, Arab nationalities comprised the biggest at 77 percent, and 27 percent from the other parts of the world.
A total of 49 Emirati artists designed the three candidate logos. (SDN)
Featured image with the Falcon bird of prey and the UAE flag is the current logo of the Emirates.