Photos: Emirati decorates home with 60,000 flags to show love for UAE

Umm Al Quwain  - Family members and workers also joined in the one-week mission  

To mark Commemoration Day and the 46th National Day, people are trying novel ways to show their love, respect and loyalty to the UAE.
Humaid Obaid Al Ali, an Emirati, has gone a step ahead. He has decorated his house with 60,000 UAE flags. Not just this, the UAE citizen has also distributed 30,000 flags to other residents.
Al Ali, based at the Al Shaabiya Al Hamra of Al Butain area in Umm Al Quwain, revealed, "I started this mission by flying 3,000 flags in the first year. Last year, it grew to 30,000, and now 60,000."
The one-week 'mission' was fervently and passionately carried out by all family members of Al Ali, helped by their workers, and some staffers of the company he bought the flags from.
"I cannot say how much it cost me for this is something I give to my beloved country," he said. "This is the least a true Emirati, who loves his nation, can do. I did nothing extraordinary, and I will do the same every year."
Obaid Humaid, his 56-year-old elder son, told Khaleej Times that they decked up the entire house with all types and sizes of UAE flags to show their love and patriotism to the country. "We have also run a number of heritage evenings in our house for Emirati poets, to give them an opportunity to read out their love to the country and leadership," the retired education ministry employee said. "A large number of people turn up at these soirées-cum-conferences to mark the occasion of Commemoration Day and National Day."
November 30 and December 2 are big days in our history, Obaid said. "They remind us of the exceptional sacrifice of our martyrs and the mighty achievements of our leaders."
Commemoration Day is a big event that deserves to be observed to pay tribute to UAE's fallen heroes, and their sacrifices should always be remembered, Obaid said.
"It is the duty and responsibility of us all, whether nationals or residents, to pay back, even part of the debt, to this great and caring country and its leadership."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Umm Al Quwain