While the UAE will mark Flag Day on Monday, November 3, a month-long celebration is already underway in Dubai that will culminate in Eid Al Etihad (UAE National Day) on Tuesday, December 2. A series of national, community, and cultural events is slated to be held in the city ahead of the important national occasions.

On Flag Day, Emiratis and expatriates across the country will come together to hoist the UAE flag at offices, schools, parks, and public spaces in a shared expression of national pride and unity.

“On November 3, we celebrate UAE Flag Day, an annual occasion to renew our pledge, reaffirm our loyalty, and express our love for our nation’s flag, the symbol of our sovereignty and the emblem of our Union,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in a message shared on X.

Introduced by the Dubai Ruler in 2013, UAE Flag Day commemorates the anniversary of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s accession as President in 2004. The annual occasion has since become a unifying symbol of loyalty and belonging across the Emirates.

National Month theme

This year’s National Month campaign continues under the #ZayedAndRashid theme, honouring the UAE’s founding fathers — the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

Government, semi-government, and private entities across Dubai are collaborating on the initiative, which is being organised by Brand Dubai, the creative arm of the Government of Dubai Media Office (GDMO).

Exact details of the programme are yet to be revealed, but if last year’s celebrations are any indication, residents can expect spectacular light displays, the return of the popular UAE Flag Garden, and concerts celebrating Emirati heritage at key city landmarks.

Last year’s campaign saw participation from major venues, including Dubai Frame, Al Wasl Dome at Expo City Dubai, Dubai International Airport (DXB), Dubai Festival City Mall, and City Walk, among others.

Preparations for this year’s celebrations are already underway, promising even greater participation from Dubai’s most iconic landmarks and organisations.