Union House Flag, Dubai

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Majilis Al Ittihad (The Union House)
forms an important part of the UAE's history.

On 2nd December 1971 Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain and Ajman came together and signed the treaty to form the federation of the United Arab Emirates. Ras Al Khaimah, the 7th & last emirate, joined 2 months later on 10th February 1972.

The gigantic UAE flag was hoisted to mark the 30th anniversary of the UAE; 2nd December 2001. It measures 40 by 20 metres! (by the way: the pole is NOT made of pure gold, as some glossy tourism magazines may lead you to believe...)

The flag can be raised or lowered with the aid of a modern mechanical system, which has been necessary quite often due to changing winds and the flag wrapping itself around its pole. Also, the flag is lowered to half-mast during mourning periods (i.e. death of Saudi's King Fahd in August 2005)

It's a great photo opportunity,
and a very impressive & beautiful tribute to the UAE's history.

Flag of Dubai emirate: 1/3 white (hoist side) and 2/3 red. (see picture)
Flag of the UAE: 3 equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a thicker vertical red band on the hoist side.

"There is no alternative to unity. We have no time to waste. Unity and progress will prevail." - HH (the late) Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
1918 - 2nd November 2004.
The 1st President of the United Arab Emirates.

TIP: The BIG BUS TOUR of Dubai drives past this flag & the Jumeirah Mosque. It's a good way to see the major sights of the city.

Union House flag is another must see activity. It is Dubai's largest flag pole built using gold. Its approximate cost mentioned by my guide, during big bus tour, is appox US $ 1.1 million. It is the same site where ruling Sheikhs got together in 1971 to form the United Arab Emirates.

The outside of the pole is made of gold and it costed over one million US dollars to make.
Here was where in December 2. 1971 six of the emirates signed under the criation of union after independecy from the British crown the last joined in 1972.
This was the biggest flagpole in the world until 2003.