The UAE National Day marks the unification of the emirates of the country into one nation. It is celebrated every year under the official theme ‘Spirit of the Union.
Official Date: December 2
The UAE celebrates the National Day with great extravaganza and festivities across the country, from spectacular fireworks to official parades.
Top Facts
- According to the World Economic Forum, the UAE holds the 25th position globally in Global Competitiveness Report 2019.
- The UAE has a remarkable place among the 10 largest donor states in official development aid (ODA).
- The UAE aims to achieve many economic and environmental achievements in the future, the most prominent of which are:
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- Using technology to make Dubai a global center for 3D printing by 2030.
- Conversion of 25% of the total means of transportation in Dubai to self-driving by 2030.
- Developing an Emirati-made explorer to land on the moon in 2024 to explore the moon and study various aspects of its surface.
- The UAE ranks first in International Passport Index.
- The national anthem of the UAE is Ishy Bilady, which translates as Long Live My Country.
- In 2019, the oldest known pearl in the world was discovered on Marawah Island, off the coast of Abu Dhabi. It is estimated to be around 8,000 years old.
- Excavations at archaeological sites in Ajman have traced human history in the area back to around 3,000 BC.
- Sir Bani Yas Island, located off the coast of the UAE's western region, is home to the oldest pre-Islamic Christian archaeological site in the country.
- There are around 40 million date palms in the UAE.
- The first evidence of human life in the UAE was discovered on Jebel Faya in Sharjah and dates back to around 85,000 BC.