To celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United Arab Emirates and Switzerland, the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, was covered with a giant Swiss flag on September 12.

Burj Khalifa lit up with Swiss flag

On the evening of September 12, tourists and locals alike saw the 828-metre-tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai light up in red and white. According to a press release from the Federal Council, the gesture of goodwill was designed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of when the Swiss government first sought official diplomatic ties with the UAE in 1973.

As part of the festivities, the Swiss Ambassador Arthur Mattli invited an Emirati delegation to a formal lunch at the embassy in Abu Dhabi, while UAE Ambassador Hissa Abdulla Ahmed Al Otaiba was returned the favour by the government with her own special meal in Geneva. The Matterhorn was also lit up with the UAE's flag to mark the occasion.

Swiss - UAE relations

“Our journey together has been one of shared values, mutual respect, and boundless opportunities. May the next 50 years be filled with even greater collaboration, prosperity, and understanding between our two great countries”, Mattli wrote.

According to Swisstrade, the UAE remains one of the most important trading partners for Switzerland in the Middle East, with the two also cooperating on a number of initiatives from education to economics. However, at the same time, some sticking points remain between the two nations, namely the UAE’s record on human rights and the continuing instability in the region