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The UAE National Day weekend is almost here, so it is time to decide how you want to use those precious days off. Commemoration Day falls on Sunday 30 November, National Day is on Tuesday 2 December, and the official public holiday is on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December, giving most people a four day break. If you have been wondering when is UAE national day, now you have your answer, and the city is already gearing up for a full Dubai national day programme.
Whether you want fireworks, food, fresh air or a quick staycation, there is plenty happening across Dubai. From sunrise cycles in the desert to evenings at Global Village and live music on the beach, here are eighteen very Dubai ways to make the most of UAE National Day 2025. You will see guides referencing uae national day 53 online, and plenty of neighbourhoods dressing up for Dubai national day festivities across the long weekend.
UAE National Day 2025 Things To Do in Dubai
Bike along Al Qudra cycle track
If you prefer Lycra to lie ins, head to Al Qudra and start the day on two wheels. The track cuts through the dunes in long, flat loops of roughly fifty kilometres and eighteen kilometres, with rest points along the way. Come at sunrise for cooler air and soft light, bring plenty of water and enjoy the feeling of being out in the desert while the city wakes up behind you.
Catch the National Day fireworks
It would not be National Day without fireworks lighting up the skyline. Dubai’s major landmarks are planning to celebrate with bursts of colour over the water and plenty of patriotic music. Expect displays at spots such as Bluewaters, Dubai Festival City and other waterfront favourites, with UAE National Day fireworks shows spread across the long weekend, so choose a vantage point where you can see both the fireworks and the skyline. If friends ask when is UAE national day, point them to these dates and suggest the best Dubai national day viewpoints.
Celebrate at Jumeirah Golf Estates
For a family friendly afternoon, Jumeirah Golf Estates has lined up traditional National Day activities on Tuesday 2 December. You can watch Yowla performances, let the children bounce themselves tired on an inflatable castle and try Emirati craft stations, with a mix of à la carte dining and food stands so you can stay for lunch or an early dinner in one place.
Visit the UAE Flag Garden at Umm Suqeim
The flag garden at Umm Suqeim Beach has become one of Dubai’s defining National Day sights. Against the backdrop of Burj Al Arab, thousands of UAE flags are planted in neat rows, creating a sea of red, green, white and black. This year’s installation again forms large scale portraits of the country’s leaders when viewed from above, but even at ground level it feels impressive, especially just before sunset. It is a simple Dubai national day outing that works for all ages.
Try a limited edition Eid Al Etihad burger
Several of Dubai’s favourite burger spots are creating special National Day burgers inspired by Emirati flavours. Expect sauces and toppings that nod to local spices, dates or cheeses, all tucked into soft buns you can eat on the go. High Joint, Izu Burger, Hoe Lee Kow and a few other cult favourites are planning their own twists, so keep an eye on their menus over the long weekend.
Pick up a complimentary tart at Novikov Café
If you are passing through Dubai Mall on Tuesday 2 December, stop for coffee at Novikov Café. Order a drink and you will be treated to a complimentary National Day tart decorated in the colours of the UAE flag. It is a small, very Dubai style gesture, a little extra treat between shopping bags and fountain shows.
Explore City Centre Mirdif’s celebrations
City Centre Mirdif is stretching its National Day celebrations from Friday 28 November to Wednesday 3 December, with fashion showcases, live performances and creative workshops dotted among the shops. You can customize tote bags, try a live pottery session or catch a show on the main stage, then carry on with your errands, which makes it an easy day out with children in tow.
Eat your way around Time Out Market Dubai
Time Out Market Dubai at Souk Al Bahar is ideal if your main holiday plan is good food. There are plenty of kitchens under one roof, from burgers and seafood to shawarma, pizza and modern Arabic dishes. Grab a table with a Burj Khalifa view if you can, order from different vendors and let everyone choose what they like, whether you come for brunch, a pre fireworks dinner or a late night snack during dubai national day.
Get a complimentary tiramisu at Peoples Honesty Eatery
During the public holiday, Peoples Honesty Eatery in Dubai Design District is offering every table a complimentary slab of tiramisu shaped like the UAE flag. It is both photogenic and genuinely tasty, so you can take the obligatory picture then share it at the table. If you are nearby for work or wandering around the design studios, it is a very good excuse to pause for coffee and dessert.
Head for the hills and hike in Hatta
If you would rather leave the crowds behind, drive out to Hatta and swap towers for mountains. December is one of the best times to walk in the Hajar range, with cooler temperatures and clear light. You can choose easy lakeside trails near the dam or more challenging routes that climb to viewpoints. Do not forget the huge Hatta sign, which holds a Guinness World Record as the tallest landmark sign in the world and makes a fun photo stop.
Join an Eid Al Etihad food tour
Rove Hotels and Frying Pan Adventures have teamed up for an Emirati food tour over the long weekend. Starting from Rove City Walk, the four hour experience takes you around Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah to sample traditional dishes, from Emirati breakfast and plenty of karak to generous seafood plates, all served with stories about the families and kitchens behind them.
Sample Emirati pastries at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab
For something more refined, book an Emirati themed pastry experience at Jumeirah Burj Al Arab. Served in the Sahn Eddar lounge, the menu blends classic French techniques with local flavours, with creations such as batheeth style mousse, ferni choux and crisp luqaimat with Arabic coffee. Between the setting, the view and the attention to detail, it feels like a very special way to spend a National Day afternoon.
Book a Dubai Creek staycation
If you fancy a change of scene without leaving the city and wants a best staycation in Dubai, Then a staycation at Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel and Towers is an easy option, offers on half board stays around the long weekend mean breakfast and either lunch or dinner are covered, and rooms look out over Dubai Creek, so you can watch abras gliding up and down before heading off to explore Deira, the souks and the older streets of Bur Dubai.
Spend a day at Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens
Emirates Dubai Rugby Sevens is one of those events that always feels worth a visit, even if you are not a rugby expert. Across three days at The Sevens Stadium you will find international rugby, netball, cricket and plenty of live music and family zones. Tickets range from simple day passes to full three day access, so dress for being outdoors, expect to walk between pitches and stages and be ready for a very social day.
Sing along with Clean Bandit at Barasti Beach
If live music by the sea is more your style, Clean Bandit are set to perform at Barasti Beach on Saturday 29 November. The British trio are known for tracks such as Rather Be, Rockabye and Symphony, mixing classical strings with electronic beats that suit a beach crowd. Tickets start from around Dhs149, and this is one to enjoy with friends, bare feet in the sand and the city skyline lit up behind the stage.
Soak up the atmosphere at Global Village
Global Village is always lively around National Day, with nightly fireworks in the colours of the UAE flag and a themed drone show on selected evenings, usually around 9pm. Between the fireworks, street performances, food stalls and souvenir shops, it is easy to spend several hours here, especially if you have visitors who want to sample different cultures and cuisines in one place. It is a classic Dubai national day stop.
Browse Ripe Market at Academy Park
Ripe Market at Academy Park will also be in National Day mood, with local food vendors, homegrown brands, crafts and families strolling between stalls. You can pick up small gifts, fresh produce and a few treats, while children visit the petting zoo or play on the grass. The atmosphere is relaxed and friendly, especially once the fairy lights flick on above the walkways.
Watch the City Walk parade
To round off the celebrations, head to City Walk for the official Eid Al Etihad parade. Dubai Police and other groups will join forces for a large-scale march through the streets, with more than one thousand participants taking part. It is best watched from one of the cafés along the route, where you can sit with a drink and simply enjoy the music, uniforms and flags passing by, a fitting end to a long weekend built around pride in the UAE.
As you plan, remember many people search when is UAE national day and land on the same dates you are reading here. Whether you tag your photos with UAE national day 53, ask friends about their Dubai national day plans or simply enjoy a quiet hour with family, the aim is the same. Mark the moment, make it yours and carry a little of that feeling into the week that follows.
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