Sheikh Zayed on a keychain

The end of November is a special time in the UAE. The date palms sway in the breeze, the sun smiles gently from the sky, and the workers of Abu Dhabi begin weaving long tubes of twinkly lights into decorative shapes and displaying them at regular intervals along the roadside. The shops fill with celebratory items, and most houses and cars are awash in red, green--and black. Yes, black. It's not Christmas being celebrated with such enthusiasm. It's the UAE national days on Dec. 2 and 3.

I was going to name this post "Pimp My Emirate" but I thought it'd be a little much. It would also be descriptive. The UAE goes crazy with national pride as the beginning of December approaches. This year our favorite federation of Gulfside city-states turns 38. If it's not a number to be proud of, don't tell that to my neighbor whose car is festooned with Emerati flags and plastered with stickers of Sheikh Zayed and sons. The aforementioned roadside light displays proclaim the birthday number every 10 feet or so, alongside the magic number seven, representing the seven emirates that make up the nation. In my favorite grocery store, one can buy Sheikh Zayed posters, tea towels, mouse pads, buttons and key chains, along with UAE-themed sweat bands, sundresses, scarves, bracelets, necklaces and several varieties of hat, including those super-tall baseball caps like they wear at Hotdog on a Stick. Only in red, green and black, of course.

Buildings get in on the act as well. My gym has the UAE flag in lights along the outer wall, and twinkly strands snaking up the palm trees in the parking lot. The skyscrapers downtown turn their floodlights to green and red. One enterprising organization projects a slideshow of UAE history 15 stories high. Featured prominently is everyone's favorite sheikh and photos of the fishing villages of Dubai and Abu Dhabi in the goat-hair-hut days of yore.

Or 38 years ago, whichever you prefer. Happy birthday, UAE!