Indonesians living across the UAE gathered at their country’s embassy in Abu Dhabi on Monday to mark Indonesia’s 81st Independence Day, with the occasion falling in the same year as the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The ceremony began at 7am with the raising of the red and white national flag. Eleven young Indonesians, selected and trained as part of the embassy’s flag-hoisting troop known as Paskibra, carried out the flag-raising under the command of Major (Marines) Rizki Apriansyah, who serves as Assistant Defence Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Abu Dhabi.
Traditional dress and community roles at the Indonesia Independence Day ceremony
Attendees arrived in traditional clothing and textiles from across the archipelago, including batik, tenun, songket and ikat. The turnout brought together Indonesians from different regions alongside foreign nationals married to Indonesians, who joined their families for the morning.
Community representatives took leading roles in the formal programme. Yuni Budi Pramudyo, chairman of IndoAdko, read the Proclamation of Independence. Tetriani Wirasmini, chairwoman of Rabiul Khair, read the Preamble to Indonesia’s 1945 Constitution. The prayer was led by Heggy Fajrianto Herman, Imam and Khatib of the Suhail Muhammad Rosyid Asy-Syamsi Mosque in Abu Dhabi.
Indonesia’s Ambassador to the UAE, Judha Nugraha, who took up the post in 2025, said the display of traditional clothing reflected the country’s core identity.
‘The vibrant traditional attire and textiles we see today reflect the face of Indonesia,’ Nugraha said. ‘We come from different regions and traditions, but under the Red and White flag, we are one Indonesia. This diversity is one of our nation’s greatest strengths.’
The ambassador added that maintaining that connection among younger generations was a deliberate aim of the programme. ‘We want young Indonesians growing up abroad to stay connected to their cultural roots, take pride in their Indonesian identity, and carry the values of unity and gotong royong (working together) wherever they go,’ he said.
Fifty years of UAE-Indonesia relations in 2026
The celebration carried added weight this year. Indonesia and the UAE are marking 50 years of formal diplomatic relations in 2026, after ties were established in 1976. The relationship has expanded across trade, investment, energy, education and culture over those five decades.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, when receiving Ambassador Nugraha’s credentials on 5 November 2025, noted that both countries ‘enjoy distinguished relations across a range of areas of mutual interest’ and that both sides are keen to strengthen the partnership to ‘serve shared interests and promote sustainable development.’
For the Indonesian community in the UAE, the anniversary is also an opportunity to introduce more of the country to people here, from food and traditional clothing to arts, culture and wider tourism.
After the formal ceremony, the programme shifted to community activities. The gathering moved to the traditional cutting of tumpeng, Indonesia’s cone-shaped yellow rice dish served at significant celebrations. Children took part in a cracker-eating contest, a pencil-in-the-bottle game and a traditional attire fashion show. Awards were presented for the best traditional dress and textiles.
Wider events organised for the community included chess, dominoes, children’s games and sporting competitions, according to Gulf News.
The 50th anniversary of UAE-Indonesia diplomatic relations will be marked through a broader programme of cultural and trade events across 2026.
