Live updates: follow the latest news on UAE National Day 2021
A spectacular immersive theatrical show awaits visitors to Expo 2020 Dubai for the UAE’s Golden Jubilee celebrations on Thursday.
From traditional Emirati dancing, colourful fireworks and fascinating projections on Al Wasl Plaza that tell the story of the Emirates, the day will be one to remember.
Organisers announced entry to the world fair will be free for everyone on UAE National Day, when there is an action-packed schedule of events planned, complete with fireworks, special performances and parades.
A flag-raising ceremony at Al Wasl Plaza at 10.15am will start celebrations. The ceremony will be attended by Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation and director general of Expo 2020 Dubai.
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and commissioner general of Expo 2020, will speak at the ceremony.
A Colours of the World parade, featuring horses from Dubai Police and the Ministry of Interior marching band, will take place at 12.45pm at Ghaf Avenue.
At 1pm, the Azi cultural performance will take place at Al Wasl. It was originally a victory performance for battle, but today it is a celebration of pride and the Arab values of unity, solidarity and courage.
Flagship event
The flagship event will be Al Wasl Plaza's immersive theatrical show "Journey of the 50". Described as a celebration of the people of the UAE, the show reflects on the country's "early dreamers" who began the story of the Emirates.
The show will use Al Wasl Dome to tell the story of the Emirates' progress during the past half century, and look forward to what lies ahead in the next 50 years, and beyond.
A preview of the show was held on the eve of the UAE’s National Day, including fireworks that lit up the buildings around the Al Wasl dome.
The production features an elderly woman, Umm Khalifa, who tells her granddaughter, Al Reem, about the origins of her people.
Throughout the ceremony, projections and fabrics that represent land, sea, wind and sky are shown to embody values of resilience, connection, tolerance and ambition.
Reem is guided by Umm Khalifa’s voice throughout her "journey" in learning more about the story of her people.
Towards the end, she accepts that the pearl diver – a major source of income for Emiratis from the late 19th century – and the astronaut are not so different. The UAE sent its first astronaut to space in 2019.
Despite the years of progress between the two professions, they both represent the UAE’s ambition for a better future.
The story is shown in a theatrical performance that includes performers ‘flying’ on an enormous model Falcon, being pulled up to the ‘sky’ holding a pearl and then transforming into an astronaut that is floating in space.
The half-hour Golden Jubilee show will take place at 7.30pm and again at 10.30pm.
At 8pm, Emirati artist and singer Eidha Al Menhali will serenade visitors with some of his hits at the Jubilee Stage.
Expo 2020 programme for December 2
09.00-09.15 Expo portal opening
10.00-13.00 Emirati welcome
10.15-11.00 UAE National Day ceremony – flag raising, speeches, anthem sung by children, Al Azi by AlWasmy
10.45-11.30 Ministry of Interior Police Marching Band, Horizon Avenue to Sea Plaza
12.45-13.15 Colours of the World Parade featuring Dubai Police horses & MOI marching band
13.00-13.05 Al Azi cultural performance, Al Wasl Plaza
14.00-14.04 Gravity by Dubai Police, Al Wasl Avenue
15.15-15.45 Music in the Garden – Fatma Zahrat Al Ain, Al Wasl Plaza
16.00-16.30 Fursan Al Emarat planes flyover
16.00-16.30 Al Meghzal – Journey of a Thread, Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre
16.00-19.00 Ayala Performers and Cultural Performance fusion with IPs, Welcome Plazas
16.30-17.00 Rashid & Latifa’s Parade, Ghaf Circle
17.00-17.30 Al Meghzal – Journey of a Thread, Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre
17.00-18.00 Ministry of Interior Police Marching Band, Ghaf Avenue to Earth Plaza
17.30-19.00 UAE National Day ceremony live broadcast from Hatta, Jubilee Stage and Dubai Millennium Amphitheatre
19.30-19.45 Drones show – UAE themed
19.30-20.00 Journey of the 50 immersive show, Al Wasl and streamed in Jubilee
20.01-20.05 National Day fireworks
20.30-22.00 Eida Al Menhali concert
21.30-21.45 Drones show – UAE themed
22.00-23.00 DJ Satwar 3000, Jubilee Stage
22.30-23.00 Journey of the 50 immersive show, Al Wasl Plaza
23.30-00.30 Exposonix – 16-piece musical performance for National Day, Jubilee Stage
Expo 2020 gets ready for Dubai - in pictures
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Young visitors pose in front of one of the installations at Expo 2020 in celebration of the UAE's Golden Jubilee. Image: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Visitors posing for a picture in front of an installation in celebration of the 50th National Day of the UAE. Image: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Drones form '50' for UAE National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai -
Children posing for a group photo in front of the UAE's Golden Jubilee installation at the Earth Plaza. Image: Expo 2020 Dubai -
The spinning cubes on the Korean pavilion's facade spell out 'Happy 50th, UAE'. Photo: Korean pavilion -
A traditional band performs at Expo 2020, celebrating the upcoming 50th anniversary which falls on December 2. AFP -
Visitors on Al Wasl Avenue at Expo 2020. Image: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Visitors at Expo 2020 Dubai at the Earth Plaza. Image: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Visitors at Al Wasl Avenue, Expo 2020. Image: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Visitor poses for a picture beside the installation in celebration of the UAE's 50th National Day. Image: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Installation in celebration of the UAE's Golden Jubilee and 50th National Day at the Earth Plaza. Image: Expo 2020 Dubai -
Two visitors pose for pictures at Expo 2020. AFP
