What is Commemoration Day 2022 and why is it celebrated in the UAE?

The Emirates remembers those who lost their lives for the country every year

Ahmed Al-Humairi witnesses the Commemoration Day ceremony at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs in 2021. All photos: Wam

The Ministry of Justice, Courts and Federal Prosecutions mark Commemoration Day in 2021.

The Ministry of Interior celebrates the annual occasion.

Dubai Customs observes Commemoration Day.

The Statistics Centre in Abu Dhabi on Commemoration Day.

Workers at Dubai Health mark the occasion.

The Ministry of Defence celebrates Commemoration Day.

The Judicial Department in Abu Dhabi marks Commemoration Day.

Ras Al Khaimah Chamber of Commerce marks the event.

The next public holiday in the UAE follows Commemoration Day, an annual event to remember those who lost their lives serving the country.

This year, the event, also known as Martyrs Day, will be the first of three days dedicated to celebrating the UAE's 51st year since unification.

As preparations gather pace for National Day, here is all you need to know about this year’s Commemoration Day.

When is the UAE's Commemoration Day?

Commemoration Day in the UAE is marked by a minute's silence on Wednesday, November 30, and celebrated with a public holiday on Thursday, December 1.

The day officially falls today, November 30, but has been marked with a public holiday on the following day in recent years, a move that is being repeated this year.

This means Commemoration Day is the first of three consecutive days of public holiday in December, because it is immediately followed by UAE National Day on December 2, with employees who work on Saturdays also given December 3 off.

Employees who work on Sunday will also have the day off, returning to work on Monday, December 5.

Why does the UAE celebrate Commemoration Day?

Commemoration Day is held every year to recognise the dedication and sacrifices of the UAE’s military and civilian service people, and to honour those who lost their lives while serving the country.

The late President Sheikh Khalifa introduced Commemoration Day in 2015.

It originally took place on November 30 to commemorate the death of Salem Suhail Khamis, who died on the same date in 1971 fighting against Iranian forces on the island of Greater Tunb. He is thought to have been the first Emirati to be killed in military service since the formation of the UAE that year.

In 2019 and 2020, the public holiday was held on December 1, a move that was repeated in 2021 and 2022.

Marking last year’s Commemoration Day, Sheikh Khalifa spoke of the sacrifices of the nation’s heroes.

“We will always remember as people and leadership, with appreciation and gratitude, our children who sacrificed their lives in defence of the nation,” he said.

UAE Armed Forces honour guard participate in the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces (left), Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah (third left), Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai (fourth left), Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Ruler of Ajman (seventh left), Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah (11th left), Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah (13th left) and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain (15th left), stand for a group photograph with the families of Martyrs during a Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama in 2019. The memorial is dedicated to the memory of UAE’s National Heroes in honour of their sacrifice and in recognition of their heroism. All photos Ministry of Presidential Affairs.

Members of the UAE Armed Forces participate in a Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

(L-R) Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi; Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammed Al Qasimi; and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed stand for a group photograph during the Commemoration Day ceremony in 2019.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed presents a medal during the Commemoration Day ceremony to a family member of a serviceman who died in 2019.

(L-R) Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; Sheikh Eissa bin Zayed; Sheikh Saif bin Mohamed; Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah; Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Sharjah, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed; Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi; , Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi; Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman and Sheikh Mohamed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, attend the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama in 2019.

(front L-R) Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi; Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamed Al Sharqi and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla attend the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

(front L-R) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed; Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi; Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi; Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi; and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla stand for a group photograph during the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Guests attend the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Members of the UAE Armed Forces participate in a Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla (R); Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamed Al Sharqi (3rd R); and Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi (5th R), stand for a group photograph with the families of martyrs during the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi lay wreaths during the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Staff Brigadier Pilot Ali Mohamed bin Musleh Al Ahbabi, director of the Office of the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces (2nd R); Sheikh Mohammed bin Tahnoon, director general of the Security and Ports Affairs at Abu Dhabi Police (3rd R); and members of the UAE Armed Forces attend the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan speaks with Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi during the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region; Sheikh Mohamed bin Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi; Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi; Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed; Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi; Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi; Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamed Al Sharqi; Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla; Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi; Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad Al Sharqi; Sheikh Saif bin Mohamed; and Sheikh Issa bin Zayed attend the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Guests attend the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

Sheikh Hamad bin Mohamed Al Sharqi; Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid; and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mu'alla attend the Commemoration Day ceremony at Wahat Al Karama.

What events are planned for Commemoration Day 2022?

Every year, the UAE observes a nationwide minute of silence to remember those who lost their lives while serving the country.

This year, the one-minute silence is taking place at 11.30am on November 30.

In previous years, UAE leaders commemorated the country’s fallen servicemen at Abu Dhabi’s Wahat Al Karama memorial, which translates to Oasis of Dignity in English, and is dedicated to Emiratis killed in service.

UAE leaders observe a minute’s silence at Wahat Al Karamah in Abu Dhabi for Commemoration Day.

Members of the UAE Armed Forces observe a minute’s of silence during a Commemoration Day flag raising ceremony at Wahat Al Karama. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

A member of the UAE Armed Forces salutes the flag. Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

UAE citizens honour UAE's fallen at Wahat Al Karamah. Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Representative from the UAE Armed Forces reflect on UAE’s fallen martyrs during the ceremony. Hamad Al Kaabi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, attended a solemn ceremony held at the Wahat Al Karama monument in Abu Dhabi.

“We stand tall with the sacrifices of our righteous martyrs,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. Saeed Al Neyadi / Crown Prince Court

“We remember their altruism, their contributions and heroic deeds in terms of the great value that remains everlasting across generations, pushing them to preserve the inheritance of the martyrs and follow their loyalty.” Mohamed Al Hammadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Commemoration Day was first introduced in 2015 as Martyrs Day, which is still the holiday's name in Arabic. Saeed Al Neyadi / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Last year, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who is now UAE President, called the country’s martyrs heroes.

“Their courage and sacrifice will inspire future generations and their memory will live forever in the history of the UAE,” he said.

“We salute their families and we pray that they rest in peace.”

*This article was originally published on November 16, 2021.