The UAE's National Day is just around the corner, with citizens and residents encouraged to come together and celebrate 51 years since the founding of the Emirates.
Several official celebrations are set to take place and employees from the public and private sectors will have days off work.
Here is all you need to know about the public holiday.
When is the UAE's National Day?
The UAE's National Day is celebrated on December 2 every year.
This year, National Day is a Friday, the end of the working week for most in the UAE.
It is preceded by Commemoration Day, which is on November 30, but is typically held on December 1. The day is dedicated to those who lost their lives serving the country.
The UAE government has announced nationwide public holidays for the public and private sectors for Commemoration Day and National Day.
This means many employees across the country will receive two days off, beginning on Thursday, December 1, for Commemoration Day, followed by a public holiday to mark National Day on Friday, December 2.
As December 3 and 4 are a weekend, many people will be treated to a four-day break from work.
Why does the UAE celebrate National Day?
The UAE celebrates National Day to commemorate the formation of the country in 1971.
The holiday marks the day that six emirates bound together to form the UAE, with Ras Al Khaimah joining as the seventh emirate the following year.
UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, led efforts to unite the emirates and became the first president.
His son, Sheikh Khalifa, served as president 2004 until his death in May.
This year will mark the first time that President Sheikh Mohamed will oversee National Day as leader, having been elected this year.
This year marks 51 years since the country’s foundation, an event that takes place against the backdrop of significantly relaxed Covid-19 restrictions.
What events are planned for National Day 2022?
Preparations are gathering pace for this year's showpiece ceremony, with details of the show set to be revealed closer to the time.
The official organising committee — led by the team that put together the Emirates' landmark Golden Jubilee event last year — is inviting government departments, private companies, schools and other organisations to download a special National Day kit, which will include the brandmark of the celebrations.
It will be made available on the National Day website and more information will be posted on social media platforms.
What happened last year?
Last year, the country celebrated its Golden Jubilee and huge celebrations took place.
The official 50th National Day celebration took place in Hatta, the Dubai exclave that is home to some of the country’s most stunning landscapes, including the Hajar Mountains and Hatta Dam.
The show took place on a floating stage within a lake built in the middle of the dam, with light displays, water projections and fireworks designed around the theme of the relationship between the Emirati people and nature.
Elsewhere, there were several firework displays and events across the Emirates, including at Expo 2020 Dubai.
This article was originally published on November 14, 2021
Heather, the Totality
Matthew Weiner,
Canongate
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Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid
When: April 25, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Allianz Arena, Munich
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 1, Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
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