Vienna, 3 November 2026.

On UAE Flag Day, the Austrian-United Arab Emirates Society (ÖVAEG) sends its warmest congratulations to the leadership and the people of the United Arab Emirates.

At Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan raised the national flag together with 55 accomplished individuals from many sectors, one for each year of the Union. The gesture honours the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the founding Rulers. It also shows what the UAE regards as the true source of its strength: people who build their country through ambition, determination and unity.

"A flag is raised by many hands," said Hans Niessl, President of the ÖVAEG and former Governor of Burgenland. "That image says a lot about the UAE's success. We congratulate the country on 55 years of Union and look forward to the years ahead.”

For Austria, the UAE is a partner of growing importance, in business and science as well as in culture and education. In a world of rapid change, friendships between societies matter all the more. They stay stable when daily headlines shift, because they rest on people who know and trust each other. This is where the ÖVAEG sees its task: to connect Vienna and the Emirates, to open doors for companies, institutions and cultural initiatives, and to keep conversations alive between Austrians and Emiratis.

The Society's Board met in Vienna on 13 October 2026 and agreed on several new initiatives for the coming year. Members and friends are warmly invited to take part. As the UAE prepares to celebrate National Day in December, the ÖVAEG once again extends its best wishes to the UAE, to the Embassy in Vienna and to all Emiratis, in Abu Dhabi and abroad.

Happy Flag Day, and congratulations on 55 years of Union.

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