UAE National Day 2026: Fireworks, Events & Where to Watch

The 55th UAE National Day, Eid Al Etihad, falls on Wednesday 2 December 2026, and the main fireworks go off that night at about 9pm. In Dubai, expect shows at Global Village (nightly over the holiday), The Beach at JBR, Bluewaters and Al Seef, with earlier 8pm displays at Dubai Festival City and over the Hatta sign. In Abu Dhabi, the Corniche, Yas Bay and Emirates Palace host fireworks, alongside Al Ain and Al Dhafra. Most shows are free. The official 2026 programme is usually published in the last week of November, so this page shows the 2025 timings as a guide and is updated as venues confirm.

On this page

1. Fireworks by emirate
2. Dubai
3. Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra
4. Sharjah and the northern emirates
5. The official ceremony
6. Where to park and how to get there
7. What is open and what closes
8. Celebrating respectfully
9. UAE National Day events FAQs

Fireworks by emirate

Dubai

• Eid Al Etihad parade: held each year with Dubai Police at City Walk. In 2025 it ran on 1 December at 4pm, with more than 1,000 marchers from Dubai Police, schools and government bodies, and horses through the streets.
• Free concerts: City Walk hosted free concerts by regional stars on 1 and 2 December in 2025.
• Global Village: fireworks, drone shows, cultural installations, the dance operetta From the Desert to the Stars and a main-stage concert by Khalid Mohammed over the 2025 holiday, all included in the normal ticket.
• Landmarks in the flag’s colours: the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Frame light up in red, green, white and black, and Dubai Frame hosted traditional performances on 2 and 3 December 2025.
• Offers: malls, hotels and restaurants run National Day promotions and staycation deals over the long weekend.
• Folk performances: Al Ayala, Al Harbiya and Yola dancers perform at more than 20 locations across the city during the celebrations.
• Hatta: free cultural activities at Hatta Heritage Village, the best spot to watch the fireworks over the Hatta sign.

Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra

• Yas Bay Waterfront: two days of celebrations from 3pm, with cultural performances, falconry, a flag garden, classic cars and fireworks at 9pm.
• Emirates Palace: Al Ayala performances in the afternoon and evening, fireworks at 9:15pm, and the building lit up each night of the holiday week.
• Abu Dhabi Corniche: the city’s classic waterfront show at 9pm; see the Corniche guide for parking.
• Mother of the Nation Festival: runs in Al Ain and Al Dhafra in late November and ends with fireworks on 2 December.
• Sheikh Zayed Festival: open at Al Wathba from 30 October 2026 and usually a centre of National Day celebrations; check its programme for fireworks.

Sharjah and the northern emirates

Sharjah’s Eid Al Etihad committee runs events across the emirate from late November, including heritage markets, music shows and operettas with fireworks in Kalba and Dibba Al Hisn. Al Majaz Waterfront is a popular gathering point in the city. Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah hold flag ceremonies, parades and fireworks on their corniches, announced locally in the last days of November. Note that six emirates united on 2 December 1971, the day Emirati families celebrate as the birth of the nation; Ras Al Khaimah joined in February 1972.

The official ceremony

The official Eid Al Etihad show is broadcast nationally on the evening of 2 December and screened at public sites in every emirate. The 2025 ceremony was held at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, and the 2024 one at Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain. The 2026 venue had not been announced when we checked. Follow the official Eid Al Etihad website for the ceremony and screening locations.

Where to park and how to get there

• Arrive by 7:30pm for a 9pm show; roads around the waterfronts close or jam from about 8pm.
• JBR and Bluewaters: parking fills early; take a taxi or ride-hailing and walk the last part.
• Al Seef and Festival City: use the mall or souk car parks and expect a long exit queue.
• Global Village: large car parks, but arrive before 7pm on 2 December.
• Abu Dhabi Corniche and Yas Bay: arrive early or use taxis; register for Yas Bay in advance.
• Leaving: wait 30 minutes after the fireworks for the traffic to clear, or walk to a quieter pickup point.

What is open and what closes

• Closed: government offices and most private offices on 2 and 3 December; schools are off from 2 to 4 December under the Ministry of Education calendar.
• Open: malls, attractions, beaches and restaurants, many with longer hours and National Day offers.
• Busiest: beaches, parks and Hatta on 2 and 3 December; book attractions and brunches ahead.

Celebrating respectfully

• Commemoration Day on 30 November honours the UAE’s fallen; it is not a day off, and celebrations wait until it has passed.
• Car decorations: police publish rules each year; keep number plates, windows and lights clear, do not spray foam or block traffic, and join parades only where allowed.
• The flag: fly it the right way up, do not let it touch the ground, and replace faded or damaged flags.
• Crowds: keep children close at fireworks sites and agree a meeting point.

UAE National Day events FAQs