DUBAI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Festivities across the seven sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) kicked off from early Saturday on the occasion of national day.
In a greeting message delivered earlier on Friday , UAE President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan called the UAE a "federal experiment" that boasts of examples of "courage, heroism and achievement."
He lauded the nation's achievements which led the UAE, a major oil supplier, to become the "most diversified economy" in the Gulf Arab region.
Abroad, UAE embassies across the globe invited dignitaries to celebrate the national day, and even the main facade of the stocks exchange Nasdaq in New York paid tribute to the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the UAE's founding father and first UAE president.
The stock market building mural, which also displays the UAE's 46th National Day emblem, features two images of Sheikh Zayed, one in monochrome and the other featuring the UAE national colours.
On December 2, 1971, under the leadership of Abu Dhabi's emir Sheikh Zayed, the six emirates Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm Al-Quwain, Fujeirah and Ajman united to create the Gulf state UAE. The sheikhdom of Ras Al-Khaima joined the state in early 1972. The UAE has a total population of approximately 10.5 million of which 80 percent are foreigners.
