Abu Dhabi unveils city-wide National Day celebration plans

Abu Dhabi has unveiled a stellar lineup of performances and events to mark the 50th UAE National Day from December 1 to December 3.

The schedule will see more than 20 immersive events that will celebrate the UAE’s culture, diversity, and people through heritage-focussed festivals, music and dance performances, sporting activities and breathtaking fireworks displays.

One of the highlights includes the popular National Day Fireworks display on December 2 which will see Abu Dhabi’s night skies illuminated by the pyrotechnics.

These spectacles of colour will light up the city skylines on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche, above Al Maryah Island on December 2 and 3 from 9:00 pm. There will also be an additional National Day Fireworks Show at Bawabat Al Sharq Mall on December 2 at 8:00 pm.

To supplement the celebrations in the sky, a host of live concerts are set to begin much before the National Day weekend, with popular Emirati singer Eidha Al Menhali performing at Qasr Al Hosn on November 26.

This will be followed by concerts across the weekend, led by Iraqi artist Majed Al Mohandis and Iraqi singer-songwriter Aseel Hameem, who will take to the stage at Emirates Palace on December 1.

Emirati singer Hamad Al Ameri will perform at Qasr Al Hosn on December 2, with Emirati singer Ahlam closing the weekend at Louvre Abu Dhabi on December 3.

Extraordinary performances will be on offer at the Abu Dhabi Sports Aviation Club on December 2, with a Skydive Show and Formation Jump, featuring 16 skydivers carrying the UAE flag and creating a ‘50’ formation above the city.

Additionally, in cooperation with Jazira Club, there will be a fly-over featuring 50 airplanes, Paramotor and Parasailing Shows with the UAE flag.

Also on December 2, Bawabat Al Sharq Mall will host a National Day Flash Mob along with their fireworks show, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The mall will also host the Sheikh Zayed Hologram interactive experience and screenings of Majlis the Story of the 50th, a film that uses archival footage to recount the UAE's successful journey over the last 50 years.

Both attractions will run from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm until December 4.

There will also be a film screening at Qasr Al Hosn, where a special ‘50 Year’ film will be screened with the first 50 guests on December 2 also treated to a private experience.

Cultural Foundation will see performances of Sailing the Silk Road by the renowned Caracalla Dance Theatre, the interactive exhibition Al Mujamma, plus art installations and screenings of films by Emirati filmmakers. Meanwhile, Manarat Al Saadiyat will host immersive art installations and workshops over the weekend.

Bait Mohammed bin Khalifa and Al Jahili Fort will also be participating in National Day celebrations with exhibitions of historical artefacts from life in Abu Dhabi over the last 50 years on show, and activations that embrace Emirati culture through art, music and gastronomy.

Coinciding with the National Day, the Abu Dhabi Winter Shopping Season will start on December 2 and run until January 31, 2022.

In celebration of the nation’s momentous milestone, Abu Dhabi has launched a Jubilee Cultural Pass, granting free or discounted access to a diverse range of cultural sites and museums across the emirate.

The pass is available at abudhabiculture.ae.