Eid Al Etihad – Join in With the UAE’s 54th National Day Celebrations in Abu Dhabi

Looking to visit Abu Dhabi over the Eid Al Etihad/National Day weekend in early December?

It is a fantastic time to be in Abu Dhabi. Not only are you almost guaranteed beautiful mild weather in early December, but there is always so much going on!

National Day (recently renamed Eid al Etihad – Celebration of the Union) is celebrated on 2 December to mark the day the country of the United Arab Emirates was formed in 1971 under a Federal Constitutional Monarchy. 2025 marks 54 years of unification.

As well as celebrating the history and culture of the UAE, Union/National Day also marks the achievements of all Abu Dhabi residents. Children dress in the colour of the flag, and people decorate their houses and cars with all sorts of UAE-themed paraphernalia.

• You can learn more about the recent history of the 7 Emirates of the United Arab Emirates here.

How long is the National Day holiday?

In December 2025, Abu Dhabi residents will enjoy a 4.5-day weekend from Friday, 28 November to Tuesday, 2 December.

Note that although National Day is usually observed on 2-3 December, due to the dates falling midweek this year, the official public holiday for the federal government (with the private sector and Ministry of Education following suit) has been moved to make for a long weekend of celebrations.

The theme of the show is ‘United in our Journey’ and will include the 200 or more nationalities that call the UAE home. Further details, such as the time and venue, are still to be announced. You can keep up to date with the latest news here.

Fursan Al Emarat Airshow Returns in 2025

After an absence of several years, the UAE’s national aerobatic team, Fursan Al Emarat, will return with several spectacular National Day airshows in 2025.

• Monday, December 1st, 1:00 pm on the Corniche
• Monda,y December 1st, 4:00 pm at the Union Parade, Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival, Al Wathba
• Tuesday, December 2nd, 4:00 pm on the Corniche
• There will also be two additional chances to catch the team in Al Wathba at 4:00 pm on the 3rd and 4th of December.

The Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental

As well as lighting up the skies with fireworks this Eid Al Etihad, the Emirates Palace will also offer a range of children’s activities and workshops from 29 November until 2 December 2025.

Some activities are free, others incur a charge.

Abrahamic Family House

This interfaith complex in Saadiyat Cultural District will be holding a community event on 28 November 2025 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Expect live cooking displays, traditional games like carrom, henna artistry, a fan calligraphy workshop, along with Emirati pop-up stores showcasing local crafts and flavours.

Free to enter, but reservations required here

Hekayah | The Story

Hekayah | The Story brings together poets, singers, and musicians to showcase the beautiful diversity of the UAE in this special free show at The Arts Centre NYU Abu Dhabi on November 27.

Celebrate UAE National Day with a lineup of poets, spoken word artists, musicians, and storytellers from diverse backgrounds coming together to explore their heritages and cultures for the 10th annual Hekayah.

Entry is free, but please pre-book via Platinumlist

Mother of the Nation Festival 2025 (Al Dhafra & Al Ain)

Still in Abu Dhabi Emirate but beyond the city, the popular MOTN (Mother of the Nation) Festival will take place over the National Day long weekend.

From 28 November to 2 December, expect live entertainment, great food, rides and activities – think giant inflatables, arcade games, arts and crafts, and, of course, it’s likely that Eid al-Etihad will be observed with fireworks!

• Learn more about the Al-Ain MOTN Festival here
• Learn more about the Al Dhafra MOTN Festival here

NB after Eid al Etihad, celebrations will move to the Abu Dhabi Corniche for the remainder of the month – learn more here

Sheikha Fatima Park

If you’ll be in the Corniche area, this is a great little family-friendly spot among the high rises for a day of cultural celebrations:

• Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December, 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
• Free entry

Fireworks & Festivities at the Galleria Mall – Al Maryah Island 2025

The Galleria on Al Maryah Island usually host a 2-day commemorative event on the Promenade (between the Rosewood Hotel and Four Seasons) followed by fireworks on 1 & 2 December.

A scaled back calendar of events has been released for 2025 in the North Atrium, which includes:

• Pride of Nation Walk
• Ayallah Dance (4 sets x 20mins per day but no indication of timing had been given)
• Henna art and face painting
• Traditional F&B
• Abu Dhabi Police Musical Marching Band on 2 December, 4:00 to 7:00 PM
• There are no fireworks on the schedule for Al Maryah Island in 2025 for Eid Al Etihad

A Spectacle at Qasr Al Watan

This year, Qasr al Watan will host a special program that highlights the history and cultural heritage of the UAE. This will include, Ayala dancers and a traditional majlis with coffee and dates, as well as a falconry experience. The evening ‘Palace in Motion Sound and Light Show’ will also be accompanied by patriotic images of the UAE flag and a rousing rendition of the national anthem, offering a memorable way to spend this national day.

The Palace is open daily from 10:00 AM until 5.00 PM over the National Day long weekend.

The Palace in Motion show usually commences at 6:30PM.

Tickets to the Palace are 65 AED adults; 30 AED for children

Learn more at qasralwatan.ae

Abu Dhabi Discounts for National Day

We can always expect an array of juicy discounts on offer over the National Day/Eid Al-Etihad long weekend.

Yas Stay & Play Packages

Book your hotel stay at any of the Yas Island hotels over Eid al-Etihad weekend, and not only will you receive theme park tickets for each day of your stay, but you will also get access to the Yas Bay fireworks and free entry to Yas Beach and Cyan Beach.

You can also get a single fast pass allowing you to junmp the queue on one ride at either Ferrari World, Warner Bros World Abu Dhabi or SeaWorld Yas Island.

For more information, click here.

The Emirates Palace

The Emirates Palace is offering special rates and staycation packages for the National Day weekend. The deal includes a complimentary National Day-themed breakfast at Vendôme for two, National Day brunch or dinner at Vendôme for two, and a National Day-themed coffee at Episodes for two.

Other things to know about the National Day Holidays in Abu Dhabi

• Schools, Government offices, and most businesses will most likely take 29 November to 2 December off to celebrate this special occasion – visitors should be mindful of this if they need any sort of visa processing, etc.
• If you have a car, public parking is free! (but be mindful that everywhere can be INCREDIBLY busy!) Take public transport if you can.
• If you are travelling by private car, plan your trip carefully to avoid road closures, particularly in the hour or so before/after the fireworks are due to occur.
• Want to get dressed up?  Go for it! Traditional dress in the colours of the UAE flag, locals and residents alike wear the UAE’s colours of red, green, white, and black with pride; you should feel free to do the same.

Other Events Happening in the UAE This National Day Long Weekend

Beyond just Eid Al-Etihad, early December brings perfect weather and a myriad of other events across the UAE. Keep your eye out for:

• The Emirates Dubai 7’s in Dubai will take place at the Rugby Sevens Stadium on Saturday, 29, and Sunday, 30 November 2025; Far more than just Rugby, this is a huge community sporting event in the nation, including padel, cricket, netball, and much more!
• The Mudabala Sail GP Final takes place off Mina Port on 29 & 30 November 2025.
• Fast-paced T10 Cricket action will be taking place at the Zayed Cricket Stadium (Abu Dhabi Cricket & Sports Hub) until 30 November 2025.
• Fontana Water Circus is running this winter at Marina Mall, and the Stranger Things Experience on Yas Island.
• The Zayed National Museum will be opening its doors to the public from Wednesday, 3 December 2025. This closely follows the opening in late November of the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, all part of the greater Saadiyat Cultural District.
• Things will also start revving up early in the week for the impending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which takes place from 5-7 December 2025.

Our complete guide to what’s going on in Abu Dhabi this December can be found here