Celebrate Eid al Etihad in Dubai – What to do on National Day 53

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This year’s Eid al Etihad (previously called National Day) celebrations mark 53 years of unification for the United Arab Emirates.

Early December is one of the most wonderful times of year to be in Dubai.  Not only do you experience fantastic mild weather, but there is always so much going on, from the joy of many seasonal events returning to the great outdoors to winter festivals, markets and, of course, the birth of the nation of the UAE.

Eid Al Etihad – ‘ Celebration of the Union’ – is marked annually on 2 December as the day the country of the United Arab Emirates was formed in 1971 under a Federal Constitutional Monarchy.

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

In 2024, Eid Al Etihad in Dubai will occur on Monday, the 2nd, and Tuesday, the 3rd of December. Combined with Saturday and Sunday, this makes for a 4-day long weekend for schools, government departments and many workers.

2024 was designated ‘The Year of Sustainability’, and many events around the city are expected to take on a sustainability theme.

You can see a full listing of Dubai public holidays in 2024 here. 

Dubai National Day Events & Fireworks 2024

This section is still being updated and may reflect events from 2023.

We strongly advise booking early for anywhere reporting fireworks views and expect to pay significantly more than usual at restaurants offering front-row seats.

Bluewaters & JBR

Bluewaters and popular beachfront area JBR will celebrate in style with a magnificent fireworks display on Sunday, 1 December at 8:00 p.m. Street performances and roaming entertainment will also be held throughout the weekend – we await full event details for 2024.

Learn more at bluewatersdubai.ae

Al Seef & Dubai Creek

This beautiful waterfront venue, adjacent to Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and overlooking Dubai Creek, will host fireworks at 9:00 pm on 3 December 2024 – further event details TBC.

Jalsat Moments at CocaCola Arena, City Walk is due to take place on Thursday, 28 November 2024. This stage show will showcase performances by Ayed Yousef, Eida Al-Menhali, Nabill Shuail and Abdulaziz Al-Duwaihi.

Dubai Festival City

Dubai Festival City normally put on an awesome show with fireworks, live entertainment including big-name stars, shopping deals and much more at their Dubai Creek-side venue.

The full plans for 2024 are yet to be announced, but we understand they will have fireworks on 2 December at 9:10 pm.

Learn more at dubaifestivalcity.com

Downtown Dubai

We are awaiting news of an official Eid al-Etihad events for the Burj Khalifa and the surrounding Downtown area of the city. The normal Burj Lightshow and Fountain Show program will run throughout the long weekend with no doubt a UAE flag-coloured theme.

If you want front-row seats at one of the nearby restaurants, make sure you check out our guide to the best dining venues on Burj Lake, most premium venues will no doubt be taking reservations well in advance for outside seating.

If you’ll be heading down the road to the capital Abu Dhabi, don’t forget to check out their line-up of Eid al Etihad weekend events and special offers here

National Day Events & Cultural Traditions in Dubai

Along with fireworks, flags, and festivals, there are many traditional events that you will see all over town. Here’s what you might expect to see and experience:

• Al Ayala Dance – Also known as Ayyala, yowalah or stick dancing, is an Emirati traditional group dance with separate groups of males and females. Men in their kanduras face one another in rows with bamboo sticks, whilst musicians move between them. Girls in traditional dress (far more colourful than the usual black) will stand in front, tossing their long black hair from side to side. (The dance is so important to the country’s heritage it is now recorded on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage Items of Humanity)
• Yola Dance – Also known as Yowla, Yollah or al-yawlah is a traditional weapons dance or victory dance involving boys or men swinging sticks, swords or (replica!) rifles.
• Falconry Displays – a highly valued custom in the UAE, falconry displays help visitors understand the importance of these birds of prey to Bedouin life.
• Ishy Bilady – the country’s national anthem will be played loud and clear throughout events over the weekend – you can pick up some pointers on the words here.

For learning more about the country’s culture and heritage, we strongly recommend you include a visit to the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) in your Dubai itinerary.

Attraction Discounts & Special Events in Dubai

National Day also brings with it a number of fantastic offers for residents and tourists alike. We’re still collating deals now (expect many to be announced rather last minute!), but look out for:

Legoland – Dubai Parks and Resorts

Between November 24th and December 3rd, enjoy a special program of events at Legoland for National Day 2024. This includes a sustainability-themed workshop as well as scavenger hunts and lots of other fun activities.

There’s also a special UAE National Day-themed Bricks Brunch on Saturday the 2nd, which includes arts, crafts and cookie decorating.

Learn more at legolanddubai.ae

City Centre Malls

Shoppers can enjoy 52x cash back on their SHARE app on their purchases at participating stores in City Centre malls. This includes food and beverage outlets as well as retail. Participating malls include City Centre Deira, City Centre Me’aisem, City Centre Mirdif, City Centre Shindagha and My City Centre Barsha.

As well as enjoying some retail therapy, visitors will be treated to a variety of cultural performances including Al Harbia and Ayala dancing.

Learn more about the SHARE reward scheme here.

Save on attractions throughout Dubai

There’s always some great retail savings to be had over the National Day long weekend, particular if you’re a Dubai resident with an EID. Some we are aware of so far:

• Expo City Dubai Terra & Vison pavilions will have 53% off attraction passes – expect to see a showcase of cultural activities and learn more about sustainability.

More coming soon as we update this round up on National Day events in Dubai for 2024

Other Things Visitors Should Know About Eid Al Etihad (National Day) in Dubai

• In 2024, schools, Government offices and most businesses will have Monday and Tuesday 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!)
• 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.

You can check out everything happening across the city during the rest of December here.

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