Abu Dhabi, Dec 03rd, 2008 : UAE missions across the world celebrated yesterday the 37th National Day of the country with the participation of representatives of Heads of Sates, ministers and other senior government officials.

In Bagdad, UAE ambassador Abdullah Ibrahim Al Shehhi hosted a gala dinner, which was attended by Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki, a number of other ministers, senior officials, members of various diplomatic missions and prominent personalities.

In Damascus, UAE ambassador Salem Eisa Al Za'abi hosted a reception to mark the occasion, and was attended by Syrian Parliament Speaker Dr. Mahmoud Al Abrash, leaders of various political parties, parliament members, ministers and other senior state officials.

In Tripoli, UAE ambassador Abdullah Sulaiman Al Hamadi hosted a reception, which was attended by a large number of Libyan government officials.

In Paris, UAE ambassador Abdullah Nasser Al Amiri organised a reception at the embassy premises to mark the auspicious occasion, and was attended by a special representative of the French President Nicolas Sarkozy, the former French President Jacques Chirac, a number of ministers and state officials attended the event.

In Singapore, Acting Charge d'Affairs of the UAE embassy Saeed Ali Al Za'abi hosted a gala event at the Hyatt Grand to mark the occasion. Parliament Secretary Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamed Suleiman represented the Singaporean government at the reception, which was also attended by other parliament members, prominent businessmen and members of diplomatic missions.

In Madrid, the UAE ambassador to Spain Hissa Abdullah Ahmed Al Oteiba hosted a reception that was attended by several senior Spanish officials, prominent personalities and business community. Saudi minister of Youth and Sports Prince Nawaf Bin Faisal Al Saud, who is currently on a visit to Spain, also attended the reception, which began with the presentation of a documentary film that depicts the gradual and steady progress of UAE.

In London, UAE ambassador to UK, Eisa Saleh Al Garg hosted a gala reception at the Royal Lancaster Hotel to celebrate the occasion, and was attended by a large number of prominent personalities from Britain and other countries.

In Sana'a, the UAE ambassador to Yemen Abdullah Matar Al Mazroui hosted a reception at the embassy premises and was attended by Minister of Expatriates Ahmed Musa'ed Husain, other officials and prominent social personalities and members of Arab and foreign diplomatic missions.

In Kualalampur, UAE ambassador to Malaysia Naser Abdullah Al Aboudi hosted a reception at the Marriot Hotel to mark the occasion. Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Y. B Haji Fadilullah Bin Yusof represented the Malaysian government at the event, which was also attended by a large number of personalities and members of diplomatic missions.

In Beijing, UAE ambassador to China Mohammed Rashid Al Bot organised a party to celebrate the event. Representing government, the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Hui headed an eight-member delegation of senior Chinese officials to the reception. A large gathering of businessmen, representatives of educational, cultural and scientific institutions also attended the event.

In Nouakchott, the Charge d'Affairs of the UAE embassy in Mauretania Ali Abdul Hamid Al Housni hosted a reception to celebrate the 37th National Day of the UAE. Mauritanian ministers, other senior government officials and local personalities attended the event.

In Riyadh, UAE ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Al Asri Bin Saeed Al Dhahiri hosted a reception at the Tuwaiq Palace in the diplomatic village in the capital to mark the occasion, which was attended by a number of Saudi officials, the Secretary General of GCC, members of diplomatic missions in Riyadh and other personalities.

In Manama, the UAE embassy in Bahrain hosted a reception to mark the occasion, and was attended by a number of Sheikhs, ministers, members of diplomatic missions and other personalities.

In Tehran, the UAE ambassador to Iran Khalifa Shahin Al Marri hosted a reception to mark the occasion. A large number of Iranian state officials attended the event including Undersecretary of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Hussein Sheikh al-Islam. The participants hailed the pioneering role of the UAE under the prudent leadership of the President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, adding that UAE is pursuing a clear political vision that was embodied by the founder of the country late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Meanwhile the UAE Consul General Ibrahim Abdul Rahman Al Za'abi hosted another reception in the Iranian port city of Bandher Abbas, and was attended by a number of state officials and other prominent personalities.

In Berlin, UAE ambassador to Germany Mohammed Ahmed Al Mahmoud organised a party at the embassy premises to mark the occasion. Former German Chancellor Gerhard Fritz Kurt Schroder, several German parliament members, government officials, prominent personalities, members of the business community as well us foreign diplomats in Germany were among the large number of participants.

A cultural troupe from the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development enthralled the audience with presentations depicting the history and the rich cultural heritage of UAE.

In Karachi, UAE Consul General Suhail Bin Matar Al Katbi hosted a reception to mark the 37th National day of UAE, and was attended by Sindh Governor Dr. Ishratul Ibad, other senior officials of the province and leaders of political parties in Pakistan.

In Khartoum, UAE ambassador to Sudan Eisa Abdullah Al Nuaimi hosted a reception at the Al Salam Rotana to mark the occasion. Representative of Sudanese President and Sudanese Justice Minister Abdul Basit Sabdarat, Advisor to the Sudanese President Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, a number of other government officials, prominent personalities and members of diplomatic missions in Sudan attended the event.

In Astana, the UAE ambassador to Kazakhstan Ibrahim Hassan Saif hosted a reception at the Radisson Sas to mark the occasion. The event was attended by Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nurlan Yermekbayev, other officials, members of the business community and diplomats.(WAM/AB)