UAE celebrates four decades of glory

Arabian culture and cuisine were the limelight of celebration on Friday evening as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated its 40th National Day.

Arabian ethnic instrumental music and the scent of burning incense at the front lobby welcomed all guests and dignitaries from diplomatic communities who crowded the Flores Ballroom at the Borobudur Hotel in Jakarta.

UAE Ambassador to Indonesia Yousif Rashid Alsharhan himself greeted each guest and dignitaries, including Indonesian Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar and former foreign minister Alwi Shihab.

Ambassador Sharhan said he celebrated the glorious anniversary of the establishment of the UAE by remembering late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who along with his brothers, set out the first foundation for the federation state.

“As we recall our great accomplishment and transformation during the previous four decades, we look forward to a brighter tomorrow under the wise leadership of his highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE,” the ambassador said.

He said the people of UAE right now enjoyed the result of continued attention to human development, as it was considered as a main driver of progress and prosperity.

The guests enjoyed Arabian cuisine, including Arabic coffee, shawarma (a Levantine Arab sandwich wrap of shaved lamb), shish kebab (skewer meat), dolma (stuffed vegetables) and dates.

The celebration continued with the cutting of a national skyscraper-shaped national cake and was then also enlivened with the Saman Acehnese traditional dance.

Most of the dignitaries, including Muhaimin, received a national flag from the ambassador. (rpt)