Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island Leisure Drive will come alive in a sea of red, white, black and green patriotism during a Union Car Parade to mark the UAE’s 41st National Day (December 2), as thousands of creatively-dressed cars and 4x4s blare their horns and vie for shares of a AED 100,000 ‘Best Decorated’ vehicle competition.

With an eye-catching top prize of AED 25,000 and AED 20,000 for second place, the Union Car Parade is expected to draw colourful entries from every corner of the Emirates. The remaining prize fund will be divided into eight additional cash prizes ranging from AED 15,000 to AED 5,000.

“Emiratis are a very patriotic people and many of us are very passionate about cars. These factors align every year for National Day - a momentous celebration where everyone in the country shows off the UAE’s colours and comes together as one society under one flag,” said Sultan Al Muhairi, General Co-ordinator of 41st National Day Celebrations, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), which is organising the competition in partnership with Abu Dhabi Police. “The Union Car Parade is a community-driven initiative designed to encourage even more nationals and expatriates to decorate their vehicles and get into the spirit of the UAE nation.”

The Union Car Parade will start on Yas Island at 5pm. The participating public is being encouraged to arrive at Abu Dhabi’s leisure and entertainment district by 2pm to ease traffic congestion and take part in a host of activities led by Etihad Airways, the UAE’s national carrier. Winners will be announced by 9PM.
With other headline events due to be revealed in coming days, a wide array of National Day themed celebrations will keep children and adults of all ages entertained over the extended holiday weekend. The breakwater opposite Abu Dhabi Corniche and next to Marina Mall will be one of the key activation areas and will feature Emirati theatre shows at Abu Dhabi Theatre (November 26, 28, 30 and December 2), a two-day Sailing Regetta (December 2-3) and a one-off Cultural Festival at the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village on National Day.

In an historic first, the exciting programme of events is truly emirate-wide this year and, in addition to several headline activations in Abu Dhabi’s heritage heartland of Al Ain, superstar singers from across the Arab world will perform Khaleeji concerts at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), as well as Dalma Island and Madinat Zayed in Abu Dhabi’s culture-rich Western Region on December 1 and 2. Also at ADNEC, the sixth Emirates Palm & Dates Festival runs until December 1.

Meanwhile, residents of the northern UAE who want to visit the UAE capital for National Day can take advantage of an exclusive RAK Airways offer of one-way flights from Ras Al Khaimah Airport to Abu Dhabi International Airport for only AED41* on December 2. Tickets can be purchased at the airline’s official website - www.rakairways.com – by calling its 24/7 call centre on 072075000 or visiting any of its UAE sales offices.

*Terms and conditions apply.

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