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5.75km long UAE flag is Afghan salesman's gift

Abu Dhabi - Son of security guard makes gigantic flag to thank country.

A gigantic UAE flag, about 5.75km long and 1.5m wide, has been made in an attempt to create a record while at the same time commemorate the country's 44th National Day.
The flag is a tribute to the nation and its people from Afghan expatriate Ibrahim Mohammad Saeed.
A salesman with a trading company in Abu Dhabi, Ibrahim said he wanted to dedicate the massive flag to the country that gave a livelihood for his father, Saeed Mohammed, a security guard, for 45 years.
Ibrahim and his two dozen friends worked for six hours every evening since the UAE Flag Day on November 3 to piece together 900 bundles of silk material in red, white, black and green colours. The flag pieces were made at different locations in Mussafah Industrial Area and Al Ain.
"It was a big dream to complete the flag. We finished it yesterday (Sunday)," he told Khaleej Times on Monday.
He said he spent about Dh100,000 for making the flag.
Ibrahim is planning to display the flag on the Abu Dhabi Corniche for the National Day celebrations. He plans to hang the flag on the trunks of trees stretching along the Corniche Road from Emirates Palace Hotel towards Mina Zayed Port.
"I am doing all this just because of my father who has been living here for over 45 years. He did everything for us, seven siblings.... He motivated us to study even when the circumstances were not good. He didn't deprive us of education and he did a lot of hard work in raising us to have a better future, all because this country gave him an opportunity to do that."
"The UAE is a peaceful country that is very kind to everyone and treats all equally so that we can all live here as a home country, spending time with the whole nation with myriad cultures," said Ibrahim, who moved to the UAE in 2007.
He said he has been inspired the most by Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, whom he had met once in Emirates Palace.
"It was a dream come true for me. I had never seen this kind of a leader in my whole life."
He said his entire family is grateful to the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who provided an excellent environment of education in their province in Afghanistan.
"The Shaikh Zayed University of Khost is just an example of his support for us. All this inspired me to give back some happiness to this country and its people on this occasion. I would like to express my gratitude and full support and dedicate this to the people of Emirates and to the best service of the UAE Armed Forces and police personnel. Long live Emirates! Love you Emirates! I am proud of you!," the jubilant man said.
He thanked his friends, including Safiullah, Ehsan Gul and his designer friend Shazia Mohammed Ashrah, who supported him in achieving his goal. "I couldn't have accomplished this feat without their hard work and support, especially Shazia's."
The 31-year-old man with five children said he will be contacting the Guinness Book of World Records to check what new record his flag can achieve.
"My ambition is to make an unbreakable record by creating another UAE flag that can stretch for 100km connecting Abu Dhabi and Dubai next year," he said, requesting support from those interested in assisting him in the mission.
sajila@khaleejtimes.com