Citizens and residents are gearing up for a long weekend to mark the 53rd UAE National Day, with celebrations lined up from Sunday, December 1, to showcase the nation's rich cultural diversity.
Also known as Eid Al Etihad, it marks the anniversary of the founding of the UAE on December 2, 1971, when six of today's seven emirates united to form one country – Ras Al Khaimah joined in February 1972.
"Everyone who calls the UAE their home will come together through various nationwide activations in Eid Al Etihad zones across the seven Emirates," said an announcement on the official website of the annual event.
From cultural celebrations and concerts to spectacular parades and fireworks, events are scheduled from December 1-3. Malls across the nation will be decked out in National Day colours and themes, with discounts on offer to mark the festivities.
A spectacular National Day show - celebrating Emirati values and the nation's development - is held each year, typically attended by the rulers of the emirates. Last year's festivities were at Expo City Dubai, during its staging of the Cop28 climate conference.
When is the National Day holiday?
Under a UAE Cabinet resolution, every year the public and private sectors receive two days off to mark the occasion – December 2 (this year on a Monday) and December 3 (Tuesday). This means it will be a long weekend this year.
The occasion is preceded by Commemoration Day, usually marked on November 30, which is dedicated to those who lost their lives serving the country. It is usually marked with a minute of silence at 11am and the UAE flag hoisted at half-mast. This is not a public holiday.
What is Eid Al Etihad?
The UAE National Day is officially titled Eid Al Etihad. It seeks to reflect and honour Arabic heritage, with the name emphasising the theme of 'union', the English translation of Etihad. It has previously been referred to as Union Day.
It's central to the country's “identity, symbolising heritage, unity, strength, and national pride”.
What is in store?
Celebrations begin on December 1, with a spectacular display of lights and colours at Bluewaters and The Beach, JBR in Dubai, with fireworks at 8pm. The next day, fireworks will be on display by the Hatta sign at 8pm and the waterfront lifestyle destination at Dubai Festival City Mall from 9.10pm. On December 3, the show will be at the historic neighbourhood of Al Seef at 9pm.
According to the organisers, Eid Al Etihad zones will be set up across the seven emirates for December 2, and the Union Parade will be held at City Walk on the same day.
The official ceremony in Al Ain on December 2 will be live-streamed across various designated zones, with Khalifa Square in Khalifa City, Etihad Arena and Sheikh Zayed Festival marked in Abu Dhabi and Dubai Festival City promenade and Al Warfa in Dubai and Wadi Hub in Hatta. The complete list for all Emirates has been shared on Eid Al Etihad's official website. Additionally, it will be screened live at cinemas across the UAE and on Eid Al Etihad’s YouTube channel, and official website.
Events will be put together by the Dubai Culture at Hatta Heritage Village, Al Shindagha Museum, the Etihad Museum and Al Fahidi Historical neighbourhood, with illuminations to deck the Dubai Frame, Dubai Safari Park and the Clock Tower roundabout. Hatta will get into the festive mood, with stunning illuminations and alfresco performances.
Global Village will receive a festive makeover, with flags, patriotic pyrotechnics and special themed shows. The Hawa Emirati Operetta will take centre stage from December 1-3, with a fireworks display pencilled in at 9pm daily. The UAE pavilion and the Khalifa Foundation pavilion will cook up a spread of authentic Emirati dishes.
A performance by Al Firduas Orchestra will be on at Expo City Dubai, with the Vision Pavilion transforming into a hub of traditional cultural activities, offering traditional activities and delicacies, from Henna to must-try sweets including Lugaimat, Rugag and other Emirati food.
Other concerts have been planned to spotlight Arab artists and regional performers. Amr Diab will take to the stage at Dubai Harbour on November 30, while Coca-Cola Arena will host shows by Arab artists Ayed Yousef, Eida Al Menhali, Nabeel Shuail and Abdulaziz Al-Duwaihi on November 28. Emirati singer Aryam is to perform at Festival Bay on December 2 from 8pm.
National Day show 2023 - in pictures
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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How to become a Boglehead
Bogleheads follow simple investing philosophies to build their wealth and live better lives. Just follow these steps.
• Spend less than you earn and save the rest. You can do this by earning more, or being frugal. Better still, do both.
• Invest early, invest often. It takes time to grow your wealth on the stock market. The sooner you begin, the better.
• Choose the right level of risk. Don't gamble by investing in get-rich-quick schemes or high-risk plays. Don't play it too safe, either, by leaving long-term savings in cash.
• Diversify. Do not keep all your eggs in one basket. Spread your money between different companies, sectors, markets and asset classes such as bonds and property.
• Keep charges low. The biggest drag on investment performance is all the charges you pay to advisers and active fund managers.
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• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
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Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
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The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
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Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
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Key facilities
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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How the bonus system works
The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.
The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.
There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).
All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.
