A show to celebrate the 49th anniversary of the UAE's unification will be broadcast live on national TV channels and can be watched online.
Seeds of the Union, a live action show that celebrates UAE history and will feature a "moving sculpture" surrounded by sea, will begin at 6.15pm on December 2 and last 40 minutes.
It will be broadcast live on Abu Dhabi TV, Dubai TV, Dubai One (English) and Mathrubhumi (Malayalam, organisers said.
Viewers can also watch a live stream online on the National Day YouTube channel, the official website and on Facebook and Instagram @OfficialUAEND.
The show, which will be staged in the UAE capital, will also be screened free at Vox cinemas in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Dubai – 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. Tickets can be bought on the National Day website.
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 broadcast on December 2.
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.
“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 focus 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.
