The UAE’s 2025 Year of Community, titled “Hand in Hand,” promotes social ties, shared responsibility, and sustainable growth nationwide/ Image: WAM
A new national birthday anthem has been released in the UAE, aiming to create a shared cultural tradition that resonates with everyone who calls the country home. As part of the 2025 Year of Community, the Emirati Birthday Song was launched following a nation-wide initiative that brought together voices from all walks of life.
A song that belongs to everyone
The Emirati Birthday Song is more than a melody — it is a community-built celebration of togetherness. Developed through a large-scale public campaign, the project was driven by the UAE Year of Community team in collaboration with Ferjan Dubai, a grassroots social enterprise known for connecting and empowering neighbourhoods across the city. The song was crafted through contributions gathered from across the country, with participation from schoolchildren, poets, casual singers, and musicians. This inclusive approach was central to the project, ensuring the composition reflected the diverse yet united social fabric of the UAE. According to Ferjan Dubai CEO and Managing Director Alia Shamlan, the goal was to root the song in everyday life, in sounds and moments shared by neighbours, families, and friends. “The Emirati Birthday Song captures those very moments. It carries the sounds, memories, and cultural details that define life in the UAE,” she said, adding that it was a true community effort powered by real contributions from the public. The final version of the song blends joyful children’s voices with rhythmic elements drawn from day-to-day life in UAE neighbourhoods. These familiar sounds, whether heard in homes, streets, or community gatherings, bring a rich cultural depth to the track.
Lyrics that reflect unity and joy
The lyrics of the Emirati Birthday Song, now publicly available for use and sharing across all platforms, express well-wishes with warmth and poetic simplicity. The official English translation reads:Your birthday is the sweetest dayMay your years continue in goodnessThe world becomes beautiful with you, dear one, it rejoices with you alwaysEvery year may you be wellEvery year may you be wellEvery year may you be dear Every year may you be well Families, schools, and communities are encouraged to sing the song during birthday celebrations, helping to embed it into the national culture as a shared expression of joy and togetherness.
What Is the UAE Year of Community?
The UAE Year Of initiative began in 2015 as a government-led platform to align national priorities across sectors — including government bodies, private organisations, nonprofits, and individuals. Each year is assigned a theme designed to rally society around common values and goals. For 2025, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has declared it the Year of Community, under the tagline “Hand in Hand.” The initiative runs from January to December 2025 and promotes values like social connection, collective responsibility, and sustainable growth. With a strong focus on strengthening family bonds and encouraging civic participation, the Year of Community is rooted in principles of authenticity, openness, resilience, optimism, humanity, and ambition, key traits that define the UAE’s national character. Initiatives under this theme aim to create immersive experiences, drive community storytelling, and activate partnerships across sectors to deepen a sense of belonging and shared responsibility among residents.
Ferjan Dubai: Championing neighbourhood spirit
A vital partner in the birthday song project, Ferjan Dubai plays a broader role in nurturing Emirati culture at the community level. The organisation functions as a platform for neighbourhood engagement, supporting local entrepreneurs, promoting cultural heritage, and creating spaces where people can connect meaningfully. The word “Ferjan” — meaning “neighbourhoods” — reflects the organisation’s core mission: to celebrate every Freej by highlighting the diversity and stories of its people. Ferjan Dubai collaborates with both government entities and private sector partners to bring events and initiatives to life that combine tradition with modern community values. Go to Source
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