UAE National Day holiday announced for private sector

Employees will enjoy four-day weekend from Thursday to Sunday, December 1 to 4

The UAE flag lights up the night sky.

Pictured bottom, left to right, Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, who was serving as Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces at the time, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, attend the official 50th UAE National Day celebrations, at Hatta Dam. All photos: Hamad Al Kaabi / Ministry of Presidential Affairs

The official National Day show was a dazzling display of lights and fireworks.

Pictured bottom, left to right, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Sharjah, and Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman.

Pictured, right to left, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Saud Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, and Sheikh Rashid bin Saud Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, stand for the UAE National Anthem.

The light show really came to life.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, right, watches the show.

Lights brighten the night sky.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed captures the mood.

Fireworks illuminate the sky.

Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi Executive Council member and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, second right.

Fireworks explode over Hatta.

Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi Executive Council member and Sheikh Nahyan Bin Zayed, chairman of the board of trustees for the Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation.

A stunning 3D projection wowed the audience.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, left, speaks with Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai.

The UAE's past, present and future was celebrated.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, right, Sheikh Rashid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Crown Prince of Umm Al Quwain, second right, and Saqr bin Ghobash Saeed Ghobash, chairman of the UAE Federal National Council.

The central focal point shone a light on the future.

Pictured, from right, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed, Sheikha Salama bint Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Sheikha Shamma bint Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohamed bin Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed.

Pictured, from right, Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed, Vice Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, and Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

The central sculpture displayed images of the UAE.

From right, bottom row, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Ruler of Umm Al Quwain.

Pictured right, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation.

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, right, and Sheikh Issa bin Zayed.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad bin Tahnoon, chairman of Abu Dhabi Airport, left, and Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa, adviser to the UAE President, second left.

Pictured, from right, Sheikh Hazza bin Tahnoon, Undersecretary to the Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, Bassam Freiha, Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi Executive Council member and chairman of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed and Sheikha Salama bint Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed.

From right, Sheikh Zayed bin Hamdan bin Zayed, Sheikha Salama bint Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, member of Abu Dhabi Executive Council and chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Office, Sheikh Mohamed bin Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed, Sheikh Suroor bin Mohamed and Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, UAE Minister of State for Tolerance.

The UAE's private-sector workers will be given three days of public holidays to mark Commemoration Day and the country's 51st National Day.

Employees will enjoy a four-day weekend from Thursday to Saturday, December 1 to 3, and with Sunday, December 4, being a day off, employees will be back in the office on December 5.

The public holiday was announced by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation on Friday.

Earlier, the UAE Media Office confirmed public-sector workers would also be given the same number of holidays.

Commemoration Day, previously called Martyr's Day, is an annual event to remember those who lost their lives in the line of service.

It officially falls on 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.

The UAE celebrates National Day to commemorate the formation of the country in 1971.

The holiday marks the day that six emirates bound together to form the UAE, with Ras Al Khaimah joining as the seventh emirate the following year.

UAE Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, led efforts to unite the emirates and became the first president.

The UAE will mark its 51st National Day in style with 10 days of celebrations next month.

December's festivities will also be momentous for the country as President Sheikh Mohamed will oversee his first National Day as leader, having been elected in May after the death of Sheikh Khalifa.

The traditional National Day show will be broadcast on TV and online on Friday, December 2, followed by live events at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from December 3 to 11.

Organisers have not confirmed specific details of the showpiece December 2 event.

Tickets for the nine shows ― which start at 6pm daily ― are Dh200 ($54.45) from the official National Day website.