In December 1972, the newly formed United Arab Emirates marked its first anniversary with celebrations that helped define the identity of a young nation. UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, presided over the festivities, which included a parade.
In Abu Dhabi, the national anthem was performed publicly for the first time during a concert that set the tone for National Day traditions that continue today. The moment captured the optimism of a country taking its earliest steps on the world stage.
A year earlier, on the eve of the federation’s birth in 1971, the capital had hosted Umm Kulthum, the famed Star of the East, for a historic concert. By 1972, she had largely retired from performing due to age and health concerns, yet the UAE ensured that its first National Day would still carry significant cultural weight. The guest of honour was Nagat Al Saghira, one of the Arab world’s most celebrated singers and a central figure in Egyptian cinema.
Egyptian singer Nagat Al Saghira performs in Abu Dhabi for National Day in 1972.
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