UAE National Day show 'Seeds of the Union' to be screened at cinemas for free

Afra Al Mansoori poses next to a Abu Dhabi’s Police band member during UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan in 2019. Reem Mohammed/The National

Khayyala performance at UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan in 2019. Reem Mohammed/The National

Abu Dhabi’s Police Band performs on UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Abu Dhabi’s Police band at UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Khayyala performance at UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Abu Dhabi’s Police Band performs on UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Abu Dhabi’s Police Band performs on UAE’s National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed/The National

Spectators take photos of Al Fursan as they perform aerobatics above Abu Dhabi Corniche. Leslie Pableo for The National

Ali Al Mansoori performs during National Day celebrations at Qasr Al Watan. Reem Mohammed / The National

Families attend festivities at Mina Al Arab lagoon walk in Ras Al Khaimah. Ruba Haza / The National

An Emirati man performs tricks on a flyboard at the Sharjah Maritime Museum, as part of National Day festivities. Salam Al Amir / The National

Families attend festivities at Mina Al Arab lagoon walk in Ras Al Khaimah. Ruba Haza / The National

Men on jetskis, flyboards and waterskiing take part in National Day celebrations at Sharjah Maritime Museum. Salam Al Amir / The National

Visitors of Qasr Al Watan watch the Al Fursan airshow along Abu Dhabi corniche. Reem Mohammed / The National

People begin to join a parade along Abu Dhabi Corniche in their decorated cars. Leslie Pableo for The National

Decorated cars begin to join a parade along Abu Dhabi corniche, near the Breakwater. Leslie Pableo for The National

Families attend National Day celebrations along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Leslie Pableo for The National

Children dress up for National Day celebrations at Abu Dhabi Corniche, Breakwater. Leslie Pableo for The National

Families attend National Day celebrations along the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Leslie Pableo for The National

The Sanchez and Calimag family spend National Day at Al Qudra lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

The Sanchez and Calimag family spend National Day at Al Qudra lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES. 2 DECEMBER 2019. Surannya Arun’s husband (in red), at Al Qudra lake with his family on UAE National Day. (Photo: Reem Mohammed/The National) Reporter: Section:

UAE Pajero Club set out to Al Qudra Lake on National Day for a day of camping and celebration. Reem Mohammed / The National

Members of the UAE Pajero Club spend National Day at Al Qudra Lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

Bashar Saad, right, spends National Day with the UAE Pajero Club at Al Qudra Lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

The UAE Pajero Club spend National Day at Al Qudra Lake. Reem Mohammed / The National

A show to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the UAE's unification will be broadcast free at Vox cinemas across the country.

Called Seeds of the Union, the live action show will feature a “moving sculpture” surrounded by sea, with elements that celebrate the UAE’s history and values.

The performance was created by a team of Emiratis and Es Devlin, who designed the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympics, the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics and the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The show will be staged in Abu Dhabi and shown at Vox Cinemas in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain for free on December 2 following precautions to restrict the spread of Covid-19.

It will be screened at Yas Mall, Marina Mall and Nation Towers branches of Vox Cinemas in Abu Dhabi, as well as Mall of the Emirates in Dubai and Al Jimi Mall in Al Ain.

As part of celebrations, citizens and residents are being invited to sing and record short clips of the national anthem to be included in a National Day video that will be aired on December 2.

A UAE Anthem Campaign is collecting the recordings.

“With Covid-19 restrictions on public celebrations, this mass performance of the national anthem provides an opportunity for people across the country to unite in song, providing solace through music in these trying times,” said Khalfan Al Mazrouei, a member of the organising committee of the official 49th UAE National Day celebration.

The grand celebration will be held remotely this year but the exact location has not been revealed.

It will be broadcast live to “an audience of millions in the UAE and beyond, allowing the public to unite in celebration from the safety of their homes,” the committee said.

The theme of the show this year will be based on the country's majestic mangroves  and nature.

Mangroves are estimated to cover more than 150 square kilometres of the UAE's coastline.

“Mangrove forests support a high level of biodiversity. They are a great absorbent of carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They also protect the habitat for wildlife,” Ms Devlin said.