'Defining moment': Sheikh Mohamed honours values of unity on UAE Union Pledge Day
On this day 55 years ago, the UAE’s Founding Fathers gathered to sign the Declaration of the Union and the UAE Constitution, giving the nation its name—the United Arab Emirates.
In celebration of this landmark moment, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan commemorated the “defining moment in our nation’s history”.
“On Union Pledge Day, we renew our commitment to the principles of unity established by the late Sheikh Zayed and his brothers the Rulers,” Sheikh Mohamed wrote on his X account.
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In 2024, Sheikh Mohamed officially designated July 18 as UAE Pledge Day to celebrate the key step that led to establishing a federation of Emirates.
Sheikh Mohammed renews pledge
Dubai Ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, celebrated the occasion by sharing a message of national pride and renewed the pledge, sharing a heartwarming video of the late Founding Fathers Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed with others rulers of the emirates on that day.
Sheikh Mohammed wrote: “Union Pledge Day—the day on which the Founding Fathers united in agreement on the vision of the Union and its Constitution.
“It is the day we renew our pledge to the nation by safeguarding this Union, reaffirm our resolve to strengthen its foundations, and renew our solidarity in protecting our achievements while building a brighter future for the generations of the Union.”
Watch the video here:
عهد الاتحاد.. اليوم الذي توافق فيه المؤسسون على فكرة الاتحاد.. ودستور الاتحاد.. اليوم الذي نجدد فيه عهودنا للوطن بصيانة هذا الاتحاد.. ونجدد فيه عزيمتنا بترسيخ هذا البناء.. ونجدد فيه تلاحمنا لحماية مكتسباتنا …وبناء مستقبل أجيال الاتحاد. pic.twitter.com/Xg27YhFJFd
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 18, 2026
UAE Union Pledge Day
Observed annually on July 18, Union Pledge Day is a revered national occasion in the UAE, alongside Eid Al Etihad, celebrated on December 2, Flag Day on November 3, and Commemoration Day on November 30.
The day was officially declared in July 2024 by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. It commemorates the pivotal meeting held on July 18, 1971, when the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his fellow Rulers signed the declaration of the Union and the UAE Constitution, and officially announced the name of the UAE.
This historic gathering set the stage for the formal establishment of the federation on December 2, 1971. As Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed stated when announcing the occasion, it is “a national occasion to celebrate the history of our country and the blessed journey towards establishing the Union”.
