UAE gears up for 51st National Day holiday celebrations

Event's organising committee vows to continue enduring legacy of unity

The UAE flag lights up the night sky.

Pictured bottom, left to right, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who was serving as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces at the time, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attend the official 50th UAE National Day celebrations, at Hatta Dam. All photos: Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The official National Day show was a dazzling display of lights and fireworks.

Pictured bottom, left to right, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Sharjah, and Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman.

Pictured, right to left, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saud Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, stand for the UAE National Anthem.

The light show really came to life.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, right, watches the show.

Lights brighten the night sky.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed captures the mood.

Fireworks illuminate the sky.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi Executive Council member and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, second right.

Fireworks explode over Hatta.

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi Executive Council member and Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed, chairman of the board of trustees for the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation.

A stunning 3D projection wowed the audience.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, left, speaks with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.

The UAE's past, present and future was celebrated.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, right, Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, second right, and Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, chairman of the UAE Federal National Council.

The central focal point shone a light on the future.

Pictured, from right, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed, Sheikha Salama bint Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Sheikha Shamma bint Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohamed bin Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed.

Pictured, from right, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

The central sculpture displayed images of the UAE.

From right, bottom row, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain.

Pictured right, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, right, and Sheikh Issa bin Zayed.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon, chairman of Abu Dhabi Airport, left, and Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa, adviser to the UAE President, second left.

Pictured, from right, Sheikh Hazza bin Tahnoon, Undersecretary to the Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, Bassam Freiha, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi Executive Council member and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed and Sheikha Salama bint Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed.

From right, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed, Sheikha Salama bint Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, Sheikh Mohamed bin Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Sheikh Suroor bin Mohamed and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, UAE Minister of State for Tolerance.

Citizens and residents across the UAE are being encouraged to come together to celebrate the country's 51st National Day on Friday, December 2.

Preparations are gathering pace for this year's showpiece ceremony to mark the birth of a nation which millions of residents drawn from all corners of the globe call home.

Details of the National Day show are set to be revealed closer to the time, but organisers are already calling on the public to get in the party mood.

The official organising committee — led by the team which put together the Emirates's landmark Golden Jubilee event — is inviting government departments, private companies, schools and other organisations to download a special National Day kit, which will include the brandmark of the celebrations.

It will be made available on the UAE National Day website and more information will be posted on social media platforms.

“This year's ceremony will continue the legacy of bringing the nation and people together in a moment of unity and celebration of the UAE's modern-day pioneers and the creators of the country's collective future,” state news agency Wam said in a statement on Monday.

Citizens are expected to turn out in force in honour of the milestone date the Emirates united as one in 1971.

December 2, 1971: The first National Day — in pictures

Last year, stunning Golden Jubilee celebrations took centre stage in Hatta before an assembled audience including Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, then serving as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, both of whom could be seen at times recording the spectacle on their mobile phones.

December's festivities will also be momentous for the country.

President Sheikh Mohamed will oversee his first National Day as leader, having been elected in May following the death of Sheikh Khalifa.

Activities will also take place against the backdrop of significantly relaxed Covid-19 restrictions.

Requirements to wear masks outdoors were lifted in February, with mandates on face coverings in indoor settings removed in September.

Safety rules were eased following a significant decline in daily case numbers.

Cases dropped to below 300 on Monday, having surged above 2,500 at the start of the year.