Fireworks will again light up the sky along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi as part of its 43rd National Day celebrations. Lee Hoagland / The National
Fireworks will again light up the sky along the Corniche in Abu Dhabi as part of its 43rd National Day celebrations. Lee Hoagland / The National

UAE

Celebrate National Day with fireworks, a parade or a concert

Celebrate National Day at one of many events happening around the country.

ABU DHABI

Dec. 1

• Fireworks by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority; Plaza Area, Abu Dhabi Corniche Family Park; 7pm to 10pm

• Mansour show; Al Maryah Island Promenade; 7:30pm (English show)

• Traditional celebrations by First Gulf Properties and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhaib; Al Maryah Island Promenade and Sowwah Square’s podium Level; all day

Dec. 2

• Al Forsan Air Show; Abu Dhabi Corniche; 3pm to 5pm

• Fireworks by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority; Khor Al Maqtaa at 8.30pm; Abu Dhabi Corniche at 9pm; Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival in the evening

• Traditional celebrations by First Gulf Properties and Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhaib; Al Maryah Island Promenade and Sowwah Square’s podium Level; all day

AJMAN

Dec. 1

• Heritage Village events; Cultural Centre; 10am to 10pm

Dec. 2

• School buses parade; Ajman corniche; morning time

• Heritage Village events; Cultural Centre; 10am to 10pm

DUBAI

Nov. 30 to Dec. 5

• Mirdif City Centre National Day celebrations; 10 am to 10pm

Dec. 1

• Folkloric shows from around the Gulf, cartoon character shows by embassies, and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development; Burj Khalifa Garden; 5pm to 9pm.

• Main event in Dubai’s National Day celebrations by Dubai National Day Celebrations Committee; Umm Suqeim, facing Burj Al Arab; 5pm to 8pm

• Fireworks; Khor Dubai, facing Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; 8pm to 8.30pm

• Emirati stars in concert by Ministry of Culture and Youth; Burj Khalifa Garden theatre, Dubai; 8pm onwards; free entry

Dec. 2

• Main event in Dubai’s National Day celebrations by Dubai National Day Celebrations Committee; Umm Suqeim, facing Burj Al Arab; 5pm to 8pm

• Emirati stars in concert by Ministry of Culture and Youth; Burj Khalifa Garden theatre, Dubai; 8pm onwards; free entry

• Fireworks; Khor Dubai, facing Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry; 8pm to 8.30pm

FUJAIRAH

Dec. 1

• 9th Family Festival by Fujairah Municipality; city centre; 10am onwards

• Heritage Vilage celebrations; near Fujairah Fort; 10am onwards

• National Day events and celebrations; Cultural Centre; 4pm to 8pm

Dec. 2

• Heritage Village celebrations; near Fujairah Fort; 10am onwards

• National Day events and celebrations; Cultural Centre; 4pm to 8pm

• UAE map in the colours of the UAE flag by Fujairah Social and Cultural Association; Fujairah corniche; 4.30pm

RAS AL KHAIMAH

Dec. 1

• Sea parade organised by the e-Government Committee

• My Country’s Landscapes exhibition; RAK Mall; 9am to 2pm

• National Day events and celebrations; Cultural Centre; 4pm to 9pm

• National Day events and celebrations; Al Hamra Mall; 4pm to 10pm

Dec. 2

• National Day events and celebrations; Cultural Centre; 4pm to 9pm

• National Day events and celebrations; Al Hamra Mall; 4pm to 10pm

SHARJAH

Dec. 1

• National Day drawing workshop; Al Hamriya Arts Centre; 10am to 12pm.

• National Day celebrations, shows and competitions; Mega Mall; 10am to 10pm

• A Coutry’s Journey operetta; Sharjah’s Marine Museum organised by the Museums Department; 8pm

Dec. 2

• Spirit of the Union exhibition; Mega Mall; 10am to 10pm

• Sea Parade, Marina of Sharjah’s Marine Museum; 2pm

• Inauguration of the Flag Court in Khorfakkan, evening time

• Musical with a number of local actors and singers; Jazirat Al Alam theatre; 8pm

UMM AL QUWAIN

Dec. 1

• Car parade in UAQ; 4pm to 8pm

• National Day events and celebrations; Cultural Centre; 5pm to 9pm

Dec. 2

• National Day events and celebrations; Cultural Centre; 5pm to 9pm

AL AIN

Dec. 1 and 2

• UAE Classical Cars festival by Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development; Al Bawadi Mall; 4pm to 9pm

• National Day celebrations at Al Bawadi Mall; 5pm to 9pm

• Concert and celebrations and fireworks at Hazzaa Bin Zayed Stadium by Al Ain Municipality; ADTCA and Al Ain Sports Club; 8pm to midnight

• Folkloric shows and celebrations at Al Hili and Al Mayzara Park by Al Ain Municipality

WESTERN REGION

Dec. 1

• National Day celebrations and exhibition by Community Police, and Ministry of Culture Youth and Community Development; Cultural Centre; 10 am to 10pm

• National Day concert by Community Police, and Ministry of Culture Youth and Community Development; Cultural Centre; 7pm onwards

Dec. 2

• National Day celebrations and exhibition by Community Police, and Ministry of Culture Youth and Community Development; Cultural Centre; 10 am to 10pm

• National Day concert by Community Police, and Ministry of Culture Youth and Community Development; Cultural Centre; 7pm onwards

• Fireworks at Madinat Zayed Park and Al Silaa Public Garden; 8:30pm

DELMA ISLAND

Dec. 2

• Flag parade; main road facing the municipality; 9am to 11am

• Fireworks by ADTCA; public garden; 8.30pm

The specs

Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Power: 300hp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: Dh189,900

On sale: now

While you're here...
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.

Khouli conviction

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

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

The specs: 2018 Maxus T60

Price, base / as tested: Dh48,000

Engine: 2.4-litre four-cylinder

Power: 136hp @ 1,600rpm

Torque: 360Nm @ 1,600 rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Fuel consumption, combined: 9.1L / 100km