The National Day of the United Arab Emirates (in Arabic: Al Yawm Al Watani) commemorates the birth of the Nation in 1971, and it is a very heartfelt celebration, for locals and expats.
It is celebrated every year on December 2, in all the Emirates with a series of spectacular shows and events.
The UAE National Day in Abu Dhabi includes, in addition to the fireworks on the Corniche and other strategic points of the city, the breathtaking air show by Al Fursan acrobatic team and the parade of the sport cars competing for the decoration record.
![UAE National Day 2012 - Macchina decorata](https://livingabudhabi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/macchina2.jpg)
Homes, offices, hotels, shopping centers, cars, streets, palms… everything is decorated with motifs that recall the colors of the Emirati flag, photos or drawings representing the founder of the nation (Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan) and sometimes, extemporaneous creations.
![Abu Dhabi National Day 20](https://livingabudhabi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/monument.jpg)
For the occasion, shopping centers offer discounts of up to 70% on some products, restaurants compete to create special dishes with ingredients that recall the colors of the UAE flag, and even the make-up for that day takes inspirations from the colours of the Emirati flag.
Thanks to the lovely temperatures of the period, the UAE National Day has always been enjoyed outdoors, with many people, locals and residents, celebrating on the streets.
UAE National Day in 2023: “Year of Sustainability”
In 2023, the United Arab Emirates National Day is inspired by the theme of sustainability and is celebrated in conjunction with COP28, the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, taking place in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December 2023.
This year the official ceremony was held at Expo City in Dubai.
Expo City Dubai: the video of the official ceremony for the 52nd UAE National Day
In the capital Abu Dhabi, the spectacular fireworks at Yas Island and Al Mariah Island were visible in many places across the city.
Also this year, Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival hosted the main themed events and performances inspired by Emirati traditions.
UAE National Day in 2022: “Year of Distinction and Precedence”
In 2022, the theme of the UAE National Day is inspired by the lines of a poem by the Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, dedicated to the celebration of the new year, “New Year, Joyful Year”.
In Abu Dhabi, the official ceremony hosted by ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre), is a storytelling inspired by the history, evolution and ambitions of the country, in the presence of the new President, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Official ceremony celebrating the 51st UAE National Day
In addition to the traditional fireworks, the celebrations and events in Abu Dhabi had the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival as their main point of reference, in the Al Wathba area, while in Dubai they took place at Expo City.
UAE National Day in 2021: the Golden Jubilee
On 2 December 2021, the United Arab Emirates celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Country’s foundation.
The President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, inaugurated the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee which, coinciding with the Expo, began on April 6, 2021 and extended until March 31, 2022.
Although among the precautions and security measures required by the pandemic, numerous events have been organized in all the emirates, listed on the dedicated website, including certainly the official celebration, a sumptuous theatrical representation on the floating theatre set up on Hatta Dam, surrounded by the Hajar mountains, to showcase the present, the past and the future of the Nation, through an original storytelling and a complex and highly organized direction, which tells the link between different peoples, nature and technology.
The performance, accessible in person and live via the Internet, is also available on the official YouTube channel.
In the emirate of Abu Dhabi, traditional record-breaking fireworks took place on the Corniche, Al Maryah Island, Yas Island, Bawabat Al Sharq Mall, in the city of Al Ain and in the Al Dhafra region.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Emirates, the Abu Dhabi Department of Tourism has launched the Jubilee Cultural Pass, to promote visits to museums, cultural centers, natural attractions throughout the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
UAE National Day in 2020
In 2020, the National Day was also celebrated in a different way. The pandemic containment measures impacted many aspects, from street celebrations to car decoration.
“الداخلية” تحدد اشتراطات تزيين المركبات في “اليوم الوطني”
MOI calls on motorists to observe precautionary measures and sets National Day car decoration rules#اليوم_الوطني_49#UAENationalDay49 pic.twitter.com/EGVGgBy3MU
— MOIUAE (@moiuae) November 24, 2020
The 49th anniversary of Emirati union was marked by a long five-day weekend, including the Commemoration of the Martyrs of the Nation, shifted this year to December 1st .
In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Tourism has announced “spectator free” events to follow from home:
• Abu Dhabi: the traditional fireworks on the Corniche, Reem Island and Al Wathba, on the evening of 2 December, broadcast live on local television channels and on the official UAE_BARQ Instagram account
• Al Ain: fireworks are scheduled (from 1 to 3 December) and two outdoor concerts at Jahili Fort (2 and 3 December), can be watched in live streaming on Abu Dhabi Culture’s social channels.
The official very special event in Abu Dhabi of this year is The Seeds of the Union Show, in the Mangrove Park: a mobile sculpture, surrounded by water, with digital video representations inspired by the symbols and history of the United Arab Emirates.
Scene number 5 pays tribute to the Frontline Heroes, citizens and residents, who stood out for their community service during the pandemic.
The live show on local TV (Abu Dhabi TV, Dubai TV, Dubai One and Mathrubhumi) is also in streaming on the official National Day channel on You Tube, on the official website and on the official social profiles Facebook and Instagram @OfficialUAEND.
The Official 49th UAE National Day Celebration https://t.co/63WihLOFG0
— Official UAE National Day Celebration (@OfficialUAEND) December 2, 2020