The UAE's stunning 51st National Day show celebrated the best of the nation and showcased its grand ambitions for the next 50 years.
An extravaganza of dancers, live music and performances ― as well as the arrival of an Etihad Rail passenger train ― delivered a taste of Emirati heritage and a snapshot of how the UAE will be shaped in the coming years.
Almost 7,000 international engineers, creatives and technicians worked behind the scenes to bring together a show streamed at 50 locations nationwide and to millions of homes on local television.
The rulers of the seven emirates, led by President Sheikh Mohamed, watched on as a visually breathtaking show unfolded at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Running just short of an hour in length, the celebration of Emirati trailblazers played out on a stage themed as a time tunnel to demonstrate the nation’s progress since 1971.
At each end, 51 lights signified every year of its history.
Performance focused on an everyday Emirati, born in the UAE, as he aged and raised a family, with his growth signifying the progress of the UAE, until his 100th birthday in 2071.
Played out to a live performance from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Emirates Choir, the story began with a rousing rendition of the national anthem.
Tribute was paid to the late President Sheikh Khalifa, who led the UAE from 2004 to 2022, with archive footage shown to celebrate his many achievements.
Particular focus was paid on his impact in areas such as the environment, sustainability, technology, the economy and education.
UAE climate action and food security efforts
The show highlighted the UAE’s rich biodiversity and its long maritime connections, with huge handmade models of fish, turtles, rays and sharks sweeping across the stage, illuminated to signify the surrounding seas.
A short speech by Noura Al Mansoori, a marine scientist and conservationist, raised the importance of protecting sea life and preserving biodiversity.
“Our sea is our culture, history and future,” she said. “Together we can keep it safe.”
About 10,000 mangrove saplings were part of the ceremony, to be planted at various sites to contribute to the UAE’s pledge to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030.
Mangroves act as the nation’s lungs, because they sequester four times the carbon of tropical rainforests and protect against sandstorms.
The show went on to describe how agriculture is adopting new methods, such as hydroponics and vertical farming, as the climatic conditions evolve.
More than 35,000 farms in the UAE now use these kinds of techniques to save water and space.
“Our land is fertile,” said Abdulla Al Kaabi, an agritech expert. “In it, we planted our dreams and from it, we reap its fruit.”
UAE's growing role in space race
The time tunnel then took viewers into the cosmos, with a nod to the UAE’s space programme.
Where once the nation’s forefathers relied upon the stars for navigation, modern-day Emiratis prepare to explore the outer reaches of space and embark on new journeys to the Moon and Mars.
The show heard from Fatema Al Hamili, an aerospace engineer who has dreamt of venturing into space since the age of seven.
In 2022, the UAE marked 25 years of its space programme.
Etihad Rail then took centre stage during the live performance, as the 400-seat passenger train that will connect all seven emirates on a 1,200km network rolled into view.
The carriage was accompanied by a stream of about 100 amateur and professional cyclists from around the country with illuminated wheels to signify the growing popularity of the sport.
Hundreds of kilometres of cycle tracks have opened up throughout the country in recent years.
Women formed a key foundation of the show, with Maryam Al Mazrouei, an Emirati who works in the solar industry, explaining the importance of generating more clean energy.
The UAE aims to generate 50 per cent of its electricity from carbon-free sources by 2050, and will host the Cop28 UN climate change conference in 2023.
Literacy was another passage of the performance, with the transfer of knowledge between generations celebrated via the Arabic Reading Challenge and Arab Literacy initiative that has led to an increase in those able to read from 53 per cent of the population in 1975 to 96 per cent today.
Flag-waving children then joined the celebration, with hundreds in a procession through the time tunnel, many of whom had their lives' aspirations beamed on to the stage in Arabic script.
The performance concluded with a vivid display of Al Ayyala dancing from a 200-strong troupe of Emirati performers, another nod to the nation’s cultural heritage.
Where to watch the show in person
Following a spectacular show beamed to homes across the nation, the public will have a chance to join the celebrations in person.
The National Day show will be performed before crowds at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from December 3 to 11.
Tickets for the nine shows ― which start at 6pm each day ― are available for Dh200 via the National Day website. Children under three can attend for free.
Champion%20v%20Champion%20(PFL%20v%20Bellator)
%3Cp%3EHeavyweight%3A%20Renan%20Ferreira%20v%20Ryan%20Bader%20%3Cbr%3EMiddleweight%3A%20Impa%20Kasanganay%20v%20Johnny%20Eblen%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%3A%20Jesus%20Pinedo%20v%20Patricio%20Pitbull%3Cbr%3ECatchweight%3A%20Ray%20Cooper%20III%20v%20Jason%20Jackson%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EShowcase%20Bouts%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EHeavyweight%3A%20Bruno%20Cappelozza%20(former%20PFL%20World%20champ)%20v%20Vadim%20Nemkov%20(former%20Bellator%20champ)%3Cbr%3ELight%20Heavyweight%3A%20Thiago%20Santos%20(PFL%20title%20contender)%20v%20Yoel%20Romero%20(Bellator%20title%20contender)%3Cbr%3ELightweight%3A%20Clay%20Collard%20(PFL%20title%20contender)%20v%20AJ%20McKee%20(former%20Bellator%20champ)%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%3A%20Gabriel%20Braga%20(PFL%20title%20contender)%20v%20Aaron%20Pico%20(Bellator%20title%20contender)%3Cbr%3ELightweight%3A%20Biaggio%20Ali%20Walsh%20(pro%20debut)%20v%20Emmanuel%20Palacios%20(pro%20debut)%3Cbr%3EWomen%E2%80%99s%20Lightweight%3A%20Claressa%20Shields%20v%20Kelsey%20DeSantis%3Cbr%3EFeatherweight%3A%20Abdullah%20Al%20Qahtani%20v%20Edukondal%20Rao%3Cbr%3EAmateur%20Flyweight%3A%20Malik%20Basahel%20v%20Vinicius%20Pereira%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Fifa Club World Cup quarter-final
Kashima Antlers 3 (Nagaki 49’, Serginho 69’, Abe 84’)
Guadalajara 2 (Zaldivar 03’, Pulido 90')
The specs: 2018 Dodge Durango SRT
Price, base / as tested: Dh259,000
Engine: 6.4-litre V8
Power: 475hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 640Nm @ 4,300rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.7L / 100km
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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.
• Keep it simple. Complexity is your enemy. You can build a balanced, diversified portfolio with just a handful of ETFs.
• Forget timing the market. Nobody knows where share prices will go next, so don't try to second-guess them.
• Stick with it. Do not sell up in a market crash. Use the opportunity to invest more at the lower price.
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
