UAE National Day show 'Seeds of the Union' to be screened at cinemas for free

A show to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the UAE's unification will be broadcast free at Vox cinemas across the country.

Called Seeds of the Union, the live action show will feature a “moving sculpture” surrounded by sea, with elements that celebrate the UAE’s history and values.

The performance was created by a team of Emiratis and Es Devlin, who designed the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Summer Olympics, the opening ceremony of the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics and the UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.

The show will be staged in Abu Dhabi and shown at Vox Cinemas in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain for free on December 2 following precautions to restrict the spread of Covid-19.

It will be screened at Yas Mall, Marina Mall and Nation Towers branches of Vox Cinemas in Abu Dhabi, as well as Mall of the Emirates in Dubai and Al Jimi Mall in Al Ain.

As part of celebrations, citizens and residents are being invited to sing and record short clips of the national anthem to be included in a National Day video that will be aired on December 2.

A UAE Anthem Campaign is collecting the recordings.

“With Covid-19 restrictions on public celebrations, this mass performance of the national anthem provides an opportunity for people across the country to unite in song, providing solace through music in these trying times,” said Khalfan Al Mazrouei, a member of the organising committee of the official 49th UAE National Day celebration.

The grand celebration will be held remotely this year but the exact location has not been revealed.

It will be broadcast live to “an audience of millions in the UAE and beyond, allowing the public to unite in celebration from the safety of their homes,” the committee said.

The theme of the show this year will be based on the country's majestic mangroves and nature.

Mangroves are estimated to cover more than 150 square kilometres of the UAE's coastline.

“Mangrove forests support a high level of biodiversity. They are a great absorbent of carbon dioxide and release oxygen. They also protect the habitat for wildlife,” Ms Devlin said.

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How the UAE gratuity payment is calculated now

Employees leaving an organisation are entitled to an end-of-service gratuity after completing at least one year of service.

The tenure is calculated on the number of days worked and does not include lengthy leave periods, such as a sabbatical. If you have worked for a company between one and five years, you are paid 21 days of pay based on your final basic salary. After five years, however, you are entitled to 30 days of pay. The total lump sum you receive is based on the duration of your employment.

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