By Mohammed Rashad Hussain, Managing PartnerPublished 5 min read
When is UAE National Day, and how long is the holiday?
UAE National Day marks the union of the emirates in 1971. It is also called Eid Al Etihad. In 2026 it is the 55th anniversary, and 2 December falls on a Wednesday.
The UAE Government portal lists the public holiday as 2 and 3 December. The date can still shift. In 2025, the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation granted leave on Monday 1 and Tuesday 2 December. The portal also cites Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 on how holidays that land on a weekend are treated.
We had not found the official 2026 announcement when we checked on 17 October 2026. Look for it from the Federal Authority before you book flights. The full year of holidays is in our guide to UAE public holidays.
Where were the National Day fireworks last year?
The 2026 programme was not published yet. This is the 2025 pattern from Gulf News, and venues tend to repeat.
| Where | When in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Global Village, Dubai | 9 pm on 1, 2 and 3 December |
| Bluewaters, Dubai | 9 pm on 2 December, free |
| The Beach, JBR | 9 pm on 2 December |
| Souk Al Seef | 9 pm on 2 December |
| Festival Bay, Dubai Festival City | 8 pm on 2 December, then a concert |
| Hatta | 8 pm on 2 December |
| Yas Island Waterfront, Abu Dhabi | 9 pm on 2 and 3 December, free |
| Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi | 9:15 pm on 2 December |
Pick one show and plan around it. Dubai Marina to Etihad Arena on Yas Bay is about 96 km, roughly an hour in free traffic. All the displays finish within an hour of each other, so the pick-up after is the hard part. Agree the meeting point before the show with the steps in our event day chauffeur checklist.
What are the car decoration rules?
Dubai Police published its guidance for the 54th Eid Al Etihad on 28 November 2025. It tells drivers to:
- keep front and rear licence plates visible
- leave the vehicle colour alone, and add no window tint, stickers or logos beyond official Eid decorations
- respect passenger limits, and never let anyone hang out of a window or sunroof
- avoid noisy or unlicensed modifications and anything that blocks the driver’s view
- not block traffic or perform stunts
The 2022 Dubai Police list also banned spraying of any kind, rallies, and stickers or front sunshades covering the windows. Abu Dhabi Police set a decoration window in 2022 from 28 November to 6 December and banned party sprays. We could not confirm a 2026 window for either emirate.
For wedding processions, which follow similar rules, see our guide to wedding convoy rules. A hired chauffeur car belongs to its owner, so ask before you attach anything, and keep every decoration well away from the plate.
What are the fines?
The last list that spelled amounts out was Dubai Police’s in 2022.
| Offence | Fine in 2022 |
|---|---|
| Reckless driving | AED 2,000, 23 black points, 60 days’ impound |
| Noisy vehicle | AED 2,000, 12 black points |
| Window tint beyond the limit | AED 1,500 |
| Stopping in the road without reason | AED 1,000, 6 black points |
A new federal traffic law came into force on 29 March 2025, so amounts may differ. Check the Ministry of Interior or Dubai Police before you rely on a figure. Dubai Police ask drivers to report unsafe driving through the Police Eye service in their app or on 901.
Which roads slow down on National Day?
Dubai does not shut its main roads for National Day the way it does for New Year’s Eve or the Dubai Run. In 2025 the RTA warned of delays on Jumeirah Street between Union House and Burj Al Arab from 4 pm to 5.30 pm on 2 December, for the Eid Al Etihad parade.
Dubai Police named these areas for extra patrols in 2025:
- Bur Dubai side: 2nd December Street, Jumeirah, Al Sufouh and JBR
- Deira: Al Muraqqabat, Al Rigga, Al Mamzar, Al Rashidiya, Al Khaleej Street, Al Ittihad Street, Amman Street and University City
Plan journeys through those areas for the evening of 2 December with extra time. Our guide to Dubai event road closures lists the other days that shut roads, and the New Year’s Eve road closures guide covers the next big night.
Public transport and parking over the holiday
For the 2025 holiday the RTA ran Dubai Metro from 5 am to 1 am on 1 and 2 December. Paid public parking was free on both days, except in multi-storey car parks and Al Khail Gate N-365, and paid tariffs resumed on 3 December. Customer Happiness Centres closed. The RTA publishes the 2026 timings a few days ahead.
Free parking can fill early near the beach and the fireworks venues. A driver who drops you at the entrance skips the search.
How can a chauffeur help on National Day?
A car with a driver suits the evening because you do not park, drive home tired or queue at a rank after the fireworks. Typical plans:
- a family evening with a pickup at 6 pm, fireworks, and a return after the display
- a visit to relatives across emirates
- guests in town for the long weekend
Tell us the venue, your passengers and the return window. A car with a driver by the hour keeps the same vehicle for the whole evening, a limousine service suits couples and small groups, and the events service covers shows and big nights. The wider year is in the Dubai and UAE events calendar.
Photos in this guide
Red and white fireworks bursting over the water during UAE National Day celebrationsVivianmaier / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Long-exposure trails of a fireworks display over the water on UAE National DayVivianmaier / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
The UAE flag flying from the tall flagpole at Union House in DubaiImre Solt / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
