While protesters took to the streets in Australia with many denouncing the Australian flag, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) flew it high to celebrate Australia Day.
The world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, was lit up with the Aussie flag for the second time this month.
On Jan. 25, the massive multi-use building was lit up with the Australian flag in solidarity with Australians going through bushfires.
The Australian Ambassador to the UAE showed a video of the skyscraper shining in Australia’s colours amid the backdrop of the Arabian desert.
Tonight the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai – the world’s tallest building – was lit up
with the Australian Flag in recognition of #AustraliaDay.
A wonderful tribute to our bilateral relationship and a great way to kick off the 50th anniversary year of our diplomatic relationship… pic.twitter.com/0wVAHQ25uU— Ridwaan Jadwat 🇦🇺 (@AusAmbUAE) January 26, 2025
Earlier in January, Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited the UAE, in part to welcome the commencement of negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
“The UAE is an important partner that plays a key role in regional security,” she said in a statement.
The minister also met with her counterparts in the UAE to discuss stability in the Middle East.
Wong also paid a visit to Australian Defence Force personnel based in the UAE, who’ve played a key role in returning Australians caught in overseas conflict and unrest in Sudan.
The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world, coming in at 829.8 metres tall, or just over half a mile.
The massive building includes 30,000 homes, nine hotels, vast parklands, 19 residential skyscrapers the Dubai Mall and an artificial lake.
In 2011, French rock climber Alain Robert scaled the outer of the building with a rope and harness. His journey took six hours.
The United Arab Emirates UAE is Australia’s largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East and the 19th biggest trading partner globally.
In 2023, two-way trade between the two was worth $9.94 billion (US$6.25 billion) and two-way investment stock worth $20.6 billion.
Key Australian exports to the UAE include alumina, meat, oil seeds, and higher education.
The Burj Khalifa display wasn’t the only large-scale celebration of Australia Day.
South Australian farmer Harry Schuster mowed the coat of arms into his paddock, complete with kangaroo and emu.
🇦🇺 ❤️ 🚜
Here’s what we’ve all been waiting for!
For the second year running, South Australian farmer Harry Schuster has ploughed an amazing Australia Day tribute into his family’s paddock.
Australia, be more like Harry! pic.twitter.com/NLtZW1qKLN
— Michael Arbon (@ArbonUap) January 25, 2025
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