Etihad Museum showcases a collection of military medals that have been issued over the years to commemorate the service of the members of its military from the Trucial Defence Force of the 1950s, to the UAE Armed Forces today.
Loyalty Medal of the Trucial Coast ForceEtihad Museum
Loyalty Medal of the Trucial Coast Force, Issued in 1970
This circular copper alloy medal, features a seven-pointed star enclosed within a laurel wreath. A circle inside the star features the word Alwala’a (loyalty) in Arabic.
The medal is attached to a claw and ribbon suspension bar with an original ribbon in alternating yellow and red, which vertical stripes.
Medal of DevotionEtihad Museum
Medal of Devotion of the Federal Armed Forces, Issued in 1974
The circular silver medallion, is inscribed with the coat of arms of the federation – an open-winged falcon with a Dhow (ship with two masts, high stem and low, straight bow) on its chest. A linked chain around Dhow the symbolises the alliance of the Emirates.
The parchment that the falcon is holding on to features the name of the country ‘United Arab Emirates’ in Arabic.
The Arabic word Al Ekhlass meaning devotion can be seen over the falcon.
The medal is attached to a claw and ribbon suspension bar, and the original ribbon designed in angled red and white stripes.
Medal of DevotionEtihad Museum
The reverse side of the medallion features a soldier with a rifle in hand, riding a camel in the desert with a palm tree in the background.
Medal of MeritEtihad Museum
Medal of Merit of the Federal Armed Forces, Issued in 1974
The silver circular medallion features the coat of arms of the federation – an open-winged falcon with a Dhow on its chest.
The linked chain within the coat of arms and seven intertwined rings that set the backdrop of the medal, both symbolise the alliance of the Emirates, while a parchment that the falcon is holding on to, features the name of the country ‘United Arab Emirates’ in Arabic.
The medal is attached to a ribbon in the colours of the UAE National Flag with a suspension bar and claw.
Medal of MeritEtihad Museum
Inscribed on the back of the medal are the Arabic words Al Quat Al Musalaha Al Etihadiya, meaning Federal Armed Forces, in a semi-circular fashion with the other half of the circle completed by laurel branches.
Medal of UnificationEtihad Museum
Medal of Unification of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, Issued in 1976
This medal was issued in commemoration of the amalgamation of the Federal Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates. The Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the 7 constituent states which formed the United Arab Emirates, on Amalgamation Day, May 6, 1976.
This three-part medal encompasses a circular gilt medallion attached to a ribbon in the colours of the UAE National Flag and two additional ribbon bars.
The lower right of the medal features the map of the United Arab Emirates as a stone wall, while on the left is a depiction of waves of the gulf.
Set against a backdrop of the gulf is a depiction of the Armed Forces emblem – an open-winged falcon holding on to a parchment inscribed with the Arabic words Al Quat Al Mosalaha, which means The Armed Forces.
Medal of UnificationEtihad Museum
Inscribed in Arabic on the reverse side of the medallion, are the words Tawheed Al Quwat Al Musalaha, meaning Union Armed Forces.
Medal of the 15th Anniversary of the Foundation of the United Arab EmiratesEtihad Museum
Medal of the 15th Anniversary of the Foundation of the United Arab Emirates, Issued in 1986
This five-point faceted bronze medal with ball-tipped star-points features another 10-point star on which is a circle with the coat of arms of the federation – an open-winged falcon with a Dhow on its chest. A linked chain within the coat of arms symbolises the alliance of the Emirates.
The parchment that the falcon is holding on to features the name of the country ‘United Arab Emirates’ in Arabic.
Medal of the 15th Anniversary of the Foundation of the United Arab EmiratesEtihad Museum
The top ball-tip is laterally pierced with a ring attached to a ribbon suspension bar featuring a striped ribbon in the colors of the UAE flag. The suspension bar bears the inscriptions ‘1971-1986 (C.E.)’ on one of its sides.
The reverse side of the star medallion features the number fifteen in Arabic (representing 15 years since the unification of the UAE) encircled by seven hands holding each other – one for each of the seven emirates.
