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The UAE celebrates its National Day collectively for two days from the 2nd of December. It commemorates the 1971 ending of a treaty signed with the UK in 1892 and the decision of seven separate sheikdoms of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman and Ras Al Kaimah to unify forming the present country also in the same year.

The National Day celebrated in all the emirates usually starts on the final day of November if there is a long weekend involved. The lead up to the big day is celebrated with a series of free public events such as hot air balloon rides, concerts by khaleeji performers, falconry competitions, regattas, carnivals, art shows and night markets. On the day itself residents across the UAE drape the Union’s flag on every possible vantage point, one of the most popular being on vehicles which also feature pictures of their rulers. Young and old Emiratis also take to the streets in fancy dress and in their decorated vehicles that are driven through the streets in convoys.

Abu Dhabi generally hosts a car parade on Yas Island where the best ‘dressed’ vehicles wins AED 25,000 prize money. However each emirate has their own trademark events such as street parades by school children, colourful dancers from various parts of the world, traditional dancers and drummers and even tribal horsemen. In the 2012 celebrations, Abu Dhabi unfurled a 41 foot UAE flag and Sharjah hoisted one on a 123 metre high flag pole.

Dubai’s Festival City featured a show on the Spirit of the Union that focused on landmark achievements of the Emirates.The latest sound and light techniques and 3D effects were employed to present the show making it a unique event. Fireworks displays light up the night sky in the Emirates to end the celebrations. Abu Dhabi had two fireworks displays in their 2012 celebrations, one in the Corniche and the other at Mina Zayed in Gharbia. The display was set to the remix version of a classical UAE song. 17,000 fireworks were shot skywards in two 10 minute long displays from boats, barges and from land.

Emiratis also celebrated the day online when they took to social media networks to express their patriotism and happiness by posting live celebratory pictures, tweets and texts. Even the rulers took to the internet to send their citizens celebratory messages.

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Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.

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