Message from the Head of Primary

Celebrating UAE Flag Day: Embracing the Colours and Values that Unite Us

I’ve been really looking forward to attending my first UAE Flag Day and have used it as an opportunity to learn about the flag itself. It’s been very interesting to do so, as a ‘newbie’ and it has really helped my understanding of the pride that Emiratis have in their country and its national emblems. I’ve discovered that the flag was designed in 1971 by Abdullah Mohammed Al Maainah, a 19-year-old at the time, as part of a nationwide design contest and it was adopted by the country on 2nd December 1971. The choice of colours is deeply important, and their symbolic meanings make a wonderful parallel with the work of the school and the values we seek to promote across the community:

The white section symbolizes the importance of good deeds and generosity. This powerful message aligns closely with our core value of kindness. We encourage each other to think about others and behave kindly towards them, so that our students grow up to be respectful and generous. There are so many examples of good deeds being done by adults and students every day at BIS Abu Dhabi, that I feel we do a great job of upholding this element of the UAE’s national identity.

The red part of the flag represents the sacrifices made by the previous generation of Emiratis to protect their motherland, its accomplishments and its values. On Flag Day, a big part of our commemoration will be reflecting on those people who worked tirelessly to make this nation a reality. The accomplishments that the UAE has achieved in the 52 years of its sovereignty are truly astonishing and we can see them all around us!

Green represents the country’s growth and prosperity—a significant reason many of us are here. The UAE’s development has created abundant opportunities, drawing people from around the world to live and work here. BIS Abu Dhabi exists as part of this nation’s success and prosperity.

The final colour, black, reminds us of the importance of strength, resilience and courage... which are an immensely powerful set of values in themselves. These attributes are absolutely crucial to all of us and particularly to our students as they embark on their learning journeys and future lives. They will all need that resilience and courage as learners and to tackle the many challenges that life has to offer more broadly, and they will need to be strong to stand up for what they know is right and good in the world.

I am proud to say that our students and our community do all of these things with enthusiasm and passion.

Happy Flag Day!

John Dibdin
Head of Primary

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