DON’T MISS
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingIamExpat Webinars
Newsletters
EXPAT INFO
CAREER
HOUSING
EDUCATION
LIFESTYLE
EXPAT SERVICES
NEWS & ARTICLES
Home
Lifestyle
Swiss news & articles
[Video] Largest building in the world lit up by giant Swiss flag
Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy

[Video] Largest building in the world lit up by giant Swiss flag

Never miss a thing!Sign up for our weekly newsletters with important news stories, expat events and special offers.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy
or
follow us for regular updates:

Related Stories

The history between the US and SwitzerlandThe history between the US and Switzerland
Women's strike in Switzerland: What expats need to knowWomen's strike in Switzerland: What expats need to know
June 2025 in Switzerland: 10 key things expats need to knowJune 2025 in Switzerland: 10 key things expats need to know
Moving to Switzerland: A step-by-step guideMoving to Switzerland: A step-by-step guide
May 2025 in Switzerland: 9 key things expats need to knowMay 2025 in Switzerland: 9 key things expats need to know
Finding a home in Switzerland: What are landlords not allowed to ask?Finding a home in Switzerland: What are landlords not allowed to ask?
Why is Liechtenstein not part of Switzerland?Why is Liechtenstein not part of Switzerland?
How to get rid of your Christmas tree in SwitzerlandHow to get rid of your Christmas tree in Switzerland
For expats of all colours, shapes and sizes

Explore
Expat infoCareerHousingEducationLifestyleExpat servicesNews & articles
About us
IamExpat MediaAdvertisePost a jobContact usSitemapRSS feeds
More IamExpat
IamExpat Job BoardIamExpat HousingWebinarsNewsletters
Privacy
Terms of usePrivacy policyCookiesAvoiding scams

Never miss a thing!Sign up for expat events, news & offers, delivered once a week.
Keep me updated with exclusive offers from partner companies
By signing up, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with our privacy policy


© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
© 2025 IamExpat Media B.V.
Sep 22, 2023

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.

 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Burj Khalifa by Emaar (@burjkhalifa)

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.

#Dubai’s Burj Khalifa lights up in colours of the Swiss flag as a thank you to #Switzerland for projecting the UAE flag on the Matterhorn mountain in Switzerland. pic.twitter.com/eW5WpZwhJp

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 19, 2020

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