Over 50,000 gather in Dubai to celebrate Palestinian heritage and UAE success stories
Nahyan bin Mubarak honours prominent figures for professional and community contributions
DUBAI – More than 50,000 people gathered at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, for the first edition of the “Emirates Loves Palestine” community event, celebrating Palestinian culture, heritage and success stories in the UAE.
The event was held in the presence of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Abeer AlRamahi, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the UAE.
Organised by the “Emirates Loves Palestine” page, the event brought together members of the Palestinian community, Emiratis and other UAE residents in a large-scale celebration of cultural identity and the longstanding ties between the two communities.
Emirates Loves Palestine
The gathering took place on Saturday at Dubai Exhibition Centre and was organised in partnership with the UAE-Palestinian Friendship Club and the Palestinian Business Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. The event formed part of a wider initiative highlighting resident communities in the UAE, while placing particular emphasis on Palestinian traditions, cultural expression and the achievements of Palestinians who have built their lives and careers in the country.
Sheikh Nahyan described the gathering as a significant expression of the relationship between the UAE and Palestine, saying it represented the largest gathering of the Palestinian community in the world. He said the event reflected the affection held by the UAE for Palestine and its people, while highlighting the importance of tolerance, coexistence and cultural openness within UAE society.
He also said the Palestinian community had been part of the UAE’s social fabric for decades, with its members contributing to the country’s development across a range of sectors. According to Sheikh Nahyan, the UAE remains committed to humanitarian efforts supporting the Palestinian people, with relief and assistance forming an important part of its humanitarian and diplomatic efforts.
He further referred to the UAE’s humanitarian support for Palestinians, describing the country as the largest donor of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. He also thanked the Embassy of the State of Palestine in the UAE, the UAE-Palestinian Friendship Club and the Palestinian Business Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates for their roles in supporting the celebration.
The minister said the event reflected longstanding relations between the UAE and Palestine, founded on what he described as fraternal ties and a shared commitment to peace, coexistence and human solidarity.
Palestinian heritage
The event featured an extensive programme of Palestinian music, songs, folk performances, traditional showcases and comedy, bringing different aspects of Palestinian cultural expression to the Dubai venue. Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf and comedian Imad Farajin were among the participating artists, alongside cultural and community figures.
Visitors were also able to explore dedicated areas showcasing Palestinian heritage, traditional food, crafts and home-based projects developed by members of the community. The programme included activities designed for families and individuals, providing visitors with opportunities to experience Palestinian traditions through food, arts, performances and displays.
Traditional cuisine formed part of the wider cultural presentation, alongside handmade crafts and heritage items. Community-led projects also provided a platform for Palestinians living in the UAE to present their work and businesses while contributing to the event’s focus on local success stories.
The organisers also used the occasion to highlight the professional and community contributions of Palestinians in the UAE. A number of prominent figures were honoured for their achievements and their roles in serving the community.
Those recognised included Dr Nader Darwich, founder of the Knee & Sports Medicine Center and consultant orthopaedic and knee surgeon; Qusay Mohamed Ahmed Al Ghusain, businessman and board member of the UAE-Palestinian Friendship Club; and Dr Abeer Ismail Mohamed Al-Najjar, professor of media and journalism at the American University of Sharjah.
Also honoured were Eng. Ahmad Adnan Zaki Saffarini, chairman of Adnan Saffarini Engineering Consultants; Eng. Fares Moh'd Said Mustafa Abubaker, engineer at SEE Institute; and Eng. Fouad Abdulhadi Mohammed Mashal, CEO of Al Barakah International Investment Group.
The list of honourees also included Salam Ezzat Hussein Abu Shihab, journalist and media professional at Al Khaleej, and Farouk Khalil Hafez Toukan, chairman of Target Jordan Palestine Securities.
Their recognition formed part of the event’s focus on Palestinian success stories and the contribution of professionals, entrepreneurs and community figures to life in the UAE.
Dubai meets Gaza
The celebration in Dubai was accompanied by a parallel event in the Gaza Strip titled “Palestine Loves the UAE”, organised in cooperation with Operation Chivalrous Knight 3. The Gaza event focused on Palestinian culture and heritage while highlighting humanitarian links between Palestinians and the UAE.
A live broadcast from Gaza was incorporated into the Dubai programme, linking people attending the celebration at Dubai Exhibition Centre with Palestinians in the Strip. The connection provided a simultaneous element to the two events and brought the UAE-based community together with participants in Gaza.
The parallel programming also highlighted the humanitarian dimension of the relationship between the UAE and Palestinian communities. Sheikh Nahyan said the UAE had maintained its support for the Palestinian people and continued to place humanitarian assistance and efforts to alleviate suffering among its priorities.
The event in Dubai also highlighted the role of Palestinians living in the UAE across economic, cultural and social fields. Organisers said the community had become an active part of the country’s diverse social fabric, contributing to the development of different sectors while maintaining links with Palestinian culture and heritage.
UAE-Palestine ties
The UAE-Palestinian Friendship Club played a role in organising the event and supporting cultural and community engagement between Emiratis and Palestinians. The Palestinian Business Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates also supported the gathering, reflecting its focus on Palestinian entrepreneurs, business leaders and professionals living and working in the UAE.
The event provided a platform for community members to present their cultural traditions while also showcasing professional achievements and contributions made in the UAE. The combination of performances, heritage displays, food, crafts, community projects and recognition of prominent figures gave the gathering a broad focus extending beyond entertainment.
The large turnout brought together Palestinians from different generations, as well as Emiratis and residents from other communities. Families attended the cultural programme, while businesses and community organisations participated in showcasing Palestinian products, projects and achievements.
Abeer AlRamahi, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the UAE, also attended the event. Speaking to the Emirates News Agency, she described the gathering as a message of love and solidarity from the UAE to Palestine and its people, while noting the Palestinian community’s appreciation for the opportunities it has found in the UAE.
The event also formed part of the broader “Emirates Loves” series, which highlights the cultures, heritage and contributions of communities living in the UAE. The Palestinian edition focused on the community’s cultural identity and its links with the UAE, while creating a large public platform for Palestinian artists, entrepreneurs, professionals and families.
The celebration comes amid continued UAE humanitarian support for Palestinians, including assistance to people affected by the conflict in Gaza. The event’s programme combined that wider humanitarian context with cultural performances, community activities and recognition of Palestinian achievements in the UAE.
At Dubai Exhibition Centre, the programme continued with performances, traditional showcases and community activities as visitors moved through areas dedicated to Palestinian food, crafts, heritage and homegrown projects. The live connection with Gaza provided another link between the two locations, while the recognition ceremony placed the achievements of Palestinian professionals and community figures at the centre of the gathering.