“Celebrating a National Day is not the mere observance of an anniversary; it is indeed a prominent occasion to highlight prominent achievements of the UAE.”

The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan 

Hosted in Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on December 2nd the Official Ceremony will mark the nations’ 40th anniversary as a federal nation by commemorating the UAE’s history and great achievements through a specially commissioned larger than life arena production. Attended by UAE leaders, heads of State and residents of the UAE this elaborate grand finale will bring together all who call the UAE home by creating a lasting and memorable anniversary which truly unites the UAE in celebration.

The arena production is a visual celebration of the extraordinary history and accomplishments of the United Arab Emirates, and the life of a visionary leader; Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Traditional Arabic customs and futuristic horizons are beautifully brought together through dance and acrobatics, animation, song and theatrical puppetry.

The ceremony involves collective strength of the many; showcasing a performing cast of hundreds, with traditional Arabic dancers sharing the stage with the world’s finest multidisciplinary aerialists and acrobats.

Tickets to attend this momentous celebration are free of charge however due to space restrictions there are only a limited number available. In order to secure your seat at the celebration event of the year, residents can to register on the official website: http://en.uaenationalday.ae/eticket to secure tickets for the event (2 tickets per person). Applicants will receive an email of confirmation notifying them of their ticket status and based on their collection preference they will be contacted to collect their tickets from designated pick-up locations. Tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first served basis so residents are urged to act fast in order to be in with a chance to secure a seat at the celebratory event of the year.

Alternatively wristbands (max 2 per person) can be collected from numerous pick-up locations as of 24 November however there is only a limited quantity of tickets available at each location and will be allocated on a first come first serve. To ensure as many people as possible experience this incredible event a maximum of 2 wristbands will be issued per person and only one application per name will be accepted. You will be asked to provide your personal details upon collection and multiple registrations will not be allowed. Pick-up locations include:

ABU DHABI
National Day Kiosk at Abu Dhabi Corniche (Gate 2)
National Day Kiosk at Marina Mall
National Day Kiosk at Khalidiya Mall
DU outlet at Hamdan Street

DUBAI
Mall of Emirates Metro Shop

Al Ain
National Day Kiosk at Bawadi Mall
DU outlet at Al Ain Mall

Western Region
National Day Kiosk at City Mall

Ras Al Khaimah
DU outlet at Manar Mall

Fujairah:
DU outlet at Dana Plaza Centre

Ajman:
DU outlet at Ajman City Centre

Umm Al Quwain:
DU outlet at Shk. Abdulla Bin Ahmas Al Mualla Bldg.

Sharjah:
DU outlet at Sharjah City Centre

In spectacular arena style, astonishing three dimensional animations are displayed on an imposing and beautiful structure which stretches above the stadium itself. The multidimensional animations illustrate the entire production, travelling across hot desert sands to the oceans, gliding from modern day into futuristic visual landscapes.

Specially commissioned poetry will be a treasured and significant part of the performance along with music of rich traditional Emirati tones. The union of traditional poetry and songs with a rich contemporary soundtrack effortlessly brings together cultural expressions of the past and present.

As a contemporary twist and look to the future, non traditional puppetry techniques also populate the arena, encouraging an interactive celebratory atmosphere with some audience participation, and remind us that 40th National Day celebrations are ‘everyone’s celebrations’. Sheikh Zayed Stadium will be open from 2pm and the celebrations, which run from 5pm to 7pm, will end with a spectacular fireworks display.

An Inspiring Program of events for the whole family 

In addition to the grand finale citizens and residents of the UAE are invited to participate in a series of inspiring events which will cater to everyone. These events, which will all be accessible to the public free of charge, will include a series of exciting parades, family entertainment, exhibitions and performances and will continue throughout December.

The celebrations will kick off on the 29th of November when Abu Dhabi’s famous landmarks including Sheikh Zayed Mosque & Al Jahili Fort in Al Ain, will be brought to life through a powerful monumental montage of light, colour and 3D projections. This event, which will run every night until the 3rd of December, will combine culture with cutting edge technology to promote the capital’s iconic skyline and share the story of the nation and its forefathers in a unique way.

Simultaneously, from the 30th of November to the 3rd of December, the famous Abu Dhabi Corniche will be transformed into an action packed entertainment hub with music, entertainment, and much more where families can enjoy and participate in the nation’s 40th anniversary celebrations. To add to the festivities, a spectacular fireworks display will take place at midnight on the 2nd of December from the Corniche.

The 1st of December promises to be a great day out with a carnival-style vehicle parade around Yas Island. In addition to the parade, which will showcase cars decorated in Emirati dress, a bazaar will also be open to visitors and there will be face painting, live music and a range of other activities to add to the fun.

Additionally from December 1st, the UAE Pavilion, located on Saadiyat Island, will house an exhibition that explores exciting themes from the UAE’s past, present and future. Visitors will be treated to never before seen exclusive artefacts and photographs that piece together the nation’s rich history. This inspiring exhibition will run from 1 December to 20 December and will focus on four main areas of the UAE’s story: The Dawn of History, The Birth of the UAE, The UAE Today and The Future

No celebration would be complete without music, so this national day, a special series of concerts will take place across the emirates. This series of spectacular performances by popular UAE and GCC artists will take place every night from the 1st of December and will be supported by traditional cultural performances. The concert times and locations are as follows:

· Abu Dhabi: ADNEC Abu Dhabi Hall from 9pm to midnight (except 2nd Dec 10pm -1am)
· Al Ain: Heritage Village from 9pm to midnight
· Al Gharbia: Madinat Zayed, Cultural Center from 9pm to midnight|
· Dalma Island: Dalma Park from 9pm to midnight

For more information including a comprehensive calendar of events, registration for key activities, historical information, daily news updates and suggests ways for all residents and visitors to get involved in the celebrations please visit www.uaenationalday.ae or connect with us on UAENationalday.ae/twitter and UAENationalday.ae/facebook. 

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