More than 500 guests joined H.E. Maria Camilleri Calleja, Ambassador of Malta in the UAE and Permanent Representative of Malta to IRENA, Deputy Head of Mission Lina Al Nafouri and Consul-General Patricia Borġ Cooper, in welcoming UAE Guest-of-Honour His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, esteemed member of the Royal Family and Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence of the UAE, as well as Her Excellency Madame Hind Al-Shriam, Deputy Director European Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Global Council for Tolerance and Peace President His Excellency Ahmed Al Jarwan, at an event to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Malta's Independence, 50 years since Malta became a Republic, 45 years since Freedom Day and 20 years since Malta's Membership in the European Union.
The event also included the participation of Maltese distinguished guests Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr Angelo Farrugia and Members of the Parliament of Malta, Hon. Dr Michael Farrugia, Hon. Carmelo Abela, Hon. Amanda Spiteri Grech, Hon. Dr Robert Cutajar and Hon. Graham Bencini, Members of the Malta-UAE Parliamentary Friendship Group, and President of The Malta Chamber, Chris Vassallo Cesareo.
The commemoration was attended by a variety of guests including Members of the Diplomatic Corps, Maltese and UAE Government representatives, Members of the Federal National Council of the UAE, Maltese in the UAE, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) officials, media representatives, influencers, travel trade, members of the Maltese and UAE business communities, artists, academics and Friends of Malta, some of whom travelled from Malta and from countries around the Gulf region for the occasion.
The Maltese and Emirati National Anthems were interpreted by 13-year-old Giulia Vella Friggieri, accompanied on the piano by 17-year-old Myra Bonnici, both of whom live in the UAE, with the amazing musical talent of Violinist Maria Cini, who travelled from Malta for the event, also animating the rest of the evening with her vibrant electric violin walk-abouts around guests together with Kazakhi pianist Venera Tregulova.
Hosted at the Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi, culinary delights were prepared by Chef Fernando, in an atmosphere styled to reminisce of the Maltese piazza environment with sumptuous Maltese and Mediterranean food and a lively musical ambience.
A video entitled “Malta: From Independence to the EU” was produced by the Department of Information and 242.Group with the assistance of Paul Galea.
Global Trend Monitor Editor-in-Chief Shereen Shabnam also featured a 13-page spread about Malta's four-fold Anniversaries, Rolex Middlesea Race, Malta Races, tourism in Malta, Maltese hospitality, Maltese culinary delights and the Vintage Car Museum in Malta.
A big thank you and well done to the Embassy staff who have been preparing this event for months ahead and the staff at the Consulate-General who assisted with the organisation.
The Embassy also wishes to thank the following 28 partners for their support in this commemoration:
Platinum Partners
• MALTA TOURISM AUTHORITY
• ENDEVIO
• 242.group
• BRANDS FOR LESS
Gold Partners
• MINISTRY FOR FOREIGN AND EUROPEAN AFFAIRS AND TRADE, MALTA
• KORE GROUP
• MEDSERV REGIS METS
• LIYFE
• XJENZA MALTA
• MALTA ENTERPRISE
• FOSTER CLARK'S
Silver Partners
• CLA MALTA
• EMIRATES AIRLINES
• CORINTHIA GROUP
• CONSTRUCT FURNITURE CO. LTD.
• A&Z EXPORTS INTERNATIONAL
• STRAND PALACE
• SIMMONDS FARSONS CISK
• RESIDENCY MALTA
• RISC INSTITUTE
• TECH.MT
• MED-TECH WORLD
• DELOITTE
• DIXCART
• CAMILLERI MARINE
• FUTURE STORY
• GIORDANO
Cultural Partner
• SAMIT EVENTS GROUP