Where to watch National Day fireworks in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

National Day, also known as Eid Al Etihad, marks the anniversary of the founding of the UAE 54 years ago, on December 2, 1971, when six of today's seven emirates united to form one country. Ras Al Khaimah joined in February 1972.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation announced that public and private sector employees will be granted leave on Monday and Tuesday, December 1 and 2. Official working hours are to resume on Wednesday, December 3, for both sectors, the ministries said.

Celebrations are set to be held across the nation over the long weekend, from concerts and cultural events to spectacular parades, plus themed decor and discounts across malls, restaurants and hotels.

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Skies across the Emirates will light up during the holiday with a number of firework displays scheduled. Here is where to watch them.

Abu Dhabi

Yas Bay Waterfront

Two nights of firework displays will light up the Yas Island waterfront at 9pm on December 2 and 3. Celebrations begin at 3pm on both days when visitors can watch cultural performances, take part in falconry activities and enjoy the Flag Garden where 54 flags will be displayed. They can also indulge in Emirati handicrafts, coffee portraits, henna, calligraphy and other immersive installations, while home-grown restaurants will serve everything from traditional bites to artisanal bakes. A classic cars exhibition will also be held.

Entry is free but registration is encouraged on the Yas Bay website.

Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental

A fireworks display will light up the skies on December 2 at the storied Abu Dhabi hotel, starting from 9.15pm. The show will be part of a larger celebration taking place from November 29 to December 3, which will feature children's activities and art workshops that will pay homage to Emirati traditions.

The facade of Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental will also be transformed through a special illumination each evening from November 30 to December 4 showcasing a kaleidoscope of colours and patterns in honour of the UAE.

Several other events are planned at the property for Eid Al Etihad, but will incur additional charges. More information is available on the hotel's website.

Al Ain Square

The annual Mother of the Nation Festival is being held in Al Ain from November 28, with fireworks set to light up the sky for Eid Al Etihad on December 2, the final night of the festival (timings yet to be revealed). An Eid Al Etihad concert will also take place on December 2 featuring a line-up of regional stars performing their greatest hits as well as UAE national songs. Mother of the Nation will come to Abu Dhabi from December 10 to January 4. Tickets are priced at Dh25 per person.

Al Mugheirah Bay in Al Dhafra

Also part of the Mother of the National Festival, this region in western Abu Dhabi will host a series of celebrations from November 28 to December 2, including fireworks for Eid Al Etihad (timings yet to be revealed) on the final night. Tickets are priced at Dh25 per person.

Bawabat Al Sharq Mall

National Day celebrations at this Bani Yas mall continue until December 7, with interactive games, exclusive giveaways, face painting, a henna art corner and a pottery colouring activity. There will be a fireworks display on December 2 at 8pm accompanied by lively music and traditional Ayala performances.

Dubai

Global Village

The popular family attraction will host a fireworks display daily from December 1 to 3 at 9pm. Additionally, a UAE-themed drone show will be held on December 2 and 3 right after the fireworks.

The displays are part of a larger National Day celebration, set to take place from November 27 to December 3, and featuring cultural installations and performances. From December 1 to 3, Global Village's mains stage will host the dance operetta From the Desert to the Stars, which will be performed twice daily (timings yet to be revealed). Khaleeji artist Khalid Mohammed will also be performing live on the main stage on December 1 at 9pm.

Standard Global Village entry prices of Dh30 will apply

The Beach, JBR

Fireworks will light the skies across The Beach in JBR on December 2 at 9pm. Whether watching from the JBR shore, or the waterfront or terraced restaurants of nearby Bluewaters Island, there are plenty of good viewpoints.

Dubai Festival City Mall

A fireworks show will kick off the celebrations at 8pm, followed by a live concert by Balqees on December 2. The Emirati-Yemeni singer will perform some of her greatest hits such as Entaha, Ahlan Ya Mama and Alf Rooh.

Tickets start at Dh75

Hatta

The Dubai enclave will host fireworks on December 2 at 8pm with the show lighting up the famed Hatta sign. While the sign is not publicly accessible, the show can be seen from various vantage points around town. Organisers recommend catching the display from Hatta Heritage Village, which is also hosting a series of free-to-attend cultural activities to mark National Day.

Souk Al Seef

In Old Dubai, head to Souk Al Seef at 9pm on December 2 to catch a fireworks show. The venue offers a rustic vibe with its Arabian-style design, and several dining options are also available on-site, including Al Fanar Seafood, Nablus and Doors Freestyle Grill.

Bluewaters Dubai

The man-made island opposite Jumeirah Beach Residence will have fireworks on December 2 at 9pm. The show can be viewed from the island's promenade, the bridge connecting Bluewaters and JBR, or from several restaurants along the waterfront.

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Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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