As fireworks lit up the skies of the UAE's capital, Abu Dhabi, last night on the eve of the 43rd National Day, Emiratis took to the streets to celebrate the anniversary of their nation's birth. Precisely 43 years and a day ago, what is now known as the United Arab Emirates began its formal nationalization from the British Protectorate Treaties.
Forty three years on from the federation's humble beginnings, what was once a barren land of pearl divers has become a beacon of modernity and prosperity not only regionally but globally. The UAE regularly tops global indices of human development, youth optimism and women empowerment, and strides into the future with a steadfast faith in its up-and-coming generations.
The grand celebrations in the seven emirates commemorate the rapid growth in the UAE and the immense pride of its nationals and expatriate residents. It is best to merely look back into the not-too-distant past to truly appreciate the progress that the UAE has made 43 years on from its birth. The following production by the UAE Embassy in Washington, DC serves to highlight how far the UAE has come from then until now: