One Thousand Delegate Waive Emirati Flags On The Sidelines Of ITU’s Conference Along With Local School Children

The  Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) celebrated the National Flag Day with the members of International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-18). The National Flag day celebrations coincided with the fifth day of the Conference which is being attended by delegates and members of 160 different countries. The Conference, in its 20th edition, is being hosted by the UAE for the first time and is organized by the TRA. It runs until 16th November at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

On this occasion, students from Al qalaa primary and secondary school  distributed the UAE national flags to the members of the ITU and other distinguished guests of PP-18 and explained to them the purpose and the importance of the event. The celebrations were very well received by the guests who expressed keen interest in knowing more about the achievements of the UAE and how the vision of the leaders shaped the right foundation for the development of this young nation.

Tariq Al Awadhi, The Executive Director of the Spectrum Management Affairs Department at the TRA and the Chairman of the Arab group at the International telecommunications Union said “Today is a special day for us (Emiratis) as we celebrate the National Flag Day. The story of this occasion goes back to November 2012, when H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the Flag Day initiative as an annual national event to be celebrated by the people of UAE, coinciding with the anniversary of the accession of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan as President of the UAE.

He added, “The National Flag Day initiative reflects a culture of respect to the flag which is as a symbol of the nation’s sovereignty and unity. It aims to strengthen a sense of patriotism among Emiratis and residents of the UAE, which confirms their loyalty and gives them a chance to express their support and appreciation for the developmental journey headed by the wise leadership of the country..”

The TRA also organized a ceremony at its Dubai headquarters to mark the occasion, wherein H.E. Saeed Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director General of Support Services Sector, at TRA, hoisted the UAE national flag.

The National Flag day is an annual occasion, which was originally launched in 2013, by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makhtoum, the Vice President and the Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, to honour the past, present and future of the country and remember the efforts of the founding fathers.

PP-18, the key event of ITU held every four years, is convening the representatives of Member States to set out a plan for 2020-2023, in terms of the latest developments in ICT.

ITU is the United Nations’ specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICT), which allocates global radio spectrum, develops the technical standards and strives to improve access to technology, for the under-served communities worldwide.