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Abu Dhabi: A patriotic Nabati poetry contest led by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai will form part of the festivities for the 35th anniversary of National Day on December 2.
It will also have a cultural forum grouping, for the first time, UAE academics, intellectual and men of letters.
Announcing an array of events to mark the day, Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, said the National Day will be celebrated not only with parades and fireworks, but also with a view to promoting the national identity and strengthening loyalty to the homeland and gratitude to the founding fathers.
"All sections of society will take part in the festivities to create interaction between leaders and the people and highlight achievements of the UAE Federation and show gratitude to the founding fathers," Al Owais said.
Under the slogan "The Federation Is Our Future", festivities will be held under the auspices of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan with all government and many private organisations taking part.
A grand festival will be held in Abu Dhabi with Their Highnesses the Rulers of the Emirates attending. Winners of the UAE Award of Appreciation will also be honoured.
Complete and win
"Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid has composed four verses of a patriotic Nabati poem, inviting all UAE Nabati poets to complete it and the winners will be awarded in a ceremony which will be held to mark the day," Al Owais said.
The Culture Minister read the verses to reporters at a news conference held at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development yesterday.
Al Owais added that for three days a group of UAE academics, intellectuals and men of letters will be confined to a hotel for three days to think about future of the UAE Federation. They will come up with recommendations to promote the UAE national identity.
A photography exhibition displaying achievement of the UAE Federation of the last 35 years and the great fathers who strived to achieve it will be held in shopping malls across the country in the week ahead of the December 2.
The exhibition will be held at Abu Dhabi Mall in Abu Dhabi, BurJuman Centre in Dubai, Sahara Centre in Sharjah, Ajman City Centre in Ajman and Al Manar Centre in Ras Al Khaimah.
Schools and universities will play host to art contests under the theme: "The UAE in The Eyes of its People."
Al Owais said the complete schedule of events will be publicised as the National Day nears.
On contribution of residents, Al Owais said all residents and tourists will be encouraged to take part in the festivities and a programme for their participation will be announced in November.
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