• Home
• /
• UAE

GUIDE: UAE National Day events at Dubai malls, centres

Dubai - Shopping malls will stage numerous activities in line with 'Spirit of the Union' National Day celebrations.

Private sector establishments and Dubai shopping malls will roll out an exciting line-up of events and activities to create a "Spirit of the Union" ambience, as part of the celebrations organised on the occasion of the UAE's 44th National Day.
Acording to a press release issued today by the Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, shopping malls in Dubai will stage a number of family-centric social, cultural and entertainment activities aimed at showcasing Emirati culture, customs and cuisines.
Highlights of celebrations organised by the private sector entities on the occasion of UAE's 44th National Day:
The Dubai Mall
The Dubai Mall will host several activities including a Kids parade (December 1 and 2);  Dubai Police band performance (November 30); Balloons giveaways (November 26 to December 5); Arabic hospitality "coffee service" (November 26 to December 5); Face painting ( November 26 to December 5) ; Chocolate distribution (December 2);  Kids art & crafts at Nail art The Village (November 26 to December 5). Bring out the artist in your children by taking them to the complimentary kids origami workshop held at the Village, every day from 3pm.
City Centre Deira, City Centre Me'aisem, City Centre Mirdif
City Centre Deira, City Centre Me'aisem and City Centre Mirdif will sport their new National Day décor and organise a number of activities to mark the historic occasion including Art & Craft workshop for kids from November 26 to December 6 while from December 2-5, visitors to the mall will be able to enjoy roaming entertainment and activities related to UAE traditions. Gifts will also be distributed to visitors during this period while the malls will also run an online activation related to National Day.
Mall of the Emirates
Mall of the Emirates will stage a National Day Fashion Parade on November 20, 21, 26, 27, 28 and on December 1, 2 and 3 at the Central Galleria. The fashion show will feature artists dressed as models and dancers with costumes designs inspired by the National Day theme and colors.
Mall of the Emirates will also host a Kids Parade on the ground floor on November 29.
The National day themed parade will feature 44 Kids from Al Rabee School in collaboration with a Police Band.  Emirati children, all dressed in the UAE flag colors, will march through Mall of the Emirates ground floor reciting the National Anthem.
Additionally, the mall will run an online activation related to the historic occasion. Dubai Festival City Mall.
From November 26 to December 5 activities at Dubai Festival City Mall will include stage shows during the evenings and feature UAE themed performers around different areas of the mall that will create photo opportunities for customers. There will also be activities related to cultures and tradition of the U.A.E such as basket weaving, henna and face painting and display of falcons, in addition to fireworks shows on the waterfront.
Ibn Battuta Mall
During the period 26 November to 5 December, the mall will organise numerous activities to celebrate National Day with a focus on showcasing the UAE's culture and heritage. There will be heritage and traditional activity stations manned by Emirati families in different courts of the mall with Henna/nail art and falcon displays, traditional community shops, display and sale of Emiratis antique pieces while monumental displays depicting the UAE culture will be placed at each entrance of the mall. 
Traditional Ayala dancers will perform on 2 December while UAE flags and balloons will be distributed at the mall on 2 December. A roaming parade will also take place during the celebrations
THE BEACH - opposite JBR
National Day celebrations at THE BEACH from 2 - 5 December will include a fascinating laser light show synchronized to music. It will be held every hour from 7:30pm to 10:30pm with each show lasting between 10-15 minutes.  THE BEACH will also have LED Jugglers performing spectacular shows at the Piazza every hour from 6pm to 10pm.
A kids' corner will include a variety of entertainment including face painting in the national colours, Cotton candy artists wowing the crowds of kids with special artistic displays and kite making in the theme of the national colours.
On National Day, the family destination will stage a Horse Show at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm in association with the Dubai International Horse Fair.
THE BEACH will also showcase an Emirati Flash mob event in the Piazza on National Day at 5 pm while a Ministry of Culture will be held from November 27 to December 5 that will see the north end of the beach being transformed to showcase different cultures within the UAE.
CITY WALK
Visitors to CITY WALK can watch a dazzling fireworks show on 2nd December, in addition to a series of entertainment during the National Day celebrations from 2 - 5 December including Kids entertainment, LED roaming dancers and local UAE dance performances.
BOXPARK
In the spirit of National Day, BOXPARK will be hosting  Graffiti artists creating UAE-themed artwork live, enthralling LED dancers, multi-media screens showcasing quotes about the UAE from notable figures, Ayyalah dancers and a special 'Kids Area' offering Face Painting and Cotton Candy.
Mercato Mall
On the occasion of National Day, Mercato will organise Children's Interactive Workshops from December 1-3, where kids can express their love to the UAE by making their own flags, coloring and painting UAE themed souvenirs or participating with their families in fun drumming sessions. During the same period there will also be National Day Roaming Entertainment featuring colorful roaming performances throughout the mall and stilt walkers distributing chocolates and roses to mall visitors representing Emirati hospitality.
An Al Ayyalah traditional Dance performance will be held on 2 December while the National Treasure Souvenirs, which runs until 2 December, will see the sale of patriotic merchandise in the National Day spirit where you can find UAE themed items such as Ayala sticks, UAE flags and muchmore. 
A Patriotic Nail Art activity on 2 and 3 December  will offer complimentary nails painted with UAE flag colors for female customers to show their support for National Day celebrations along with a Cookies Decorating Workshop. The mall will also hold a National Day Cake Cutting ceremony on 2 December.
Etisalat
Etisalat will organise a ceremony on the occasion of the UAE 44th National Day, which includes hoisting the UAE flag, reciting of the national anthem, a show by school children, as well as the opening of a heritage  zone. The ceremony also will include a poetry recital session and a show by school children and a performance by the Ayyala troupe.
Global Village
Global Village, the region's leading family entertainment and cultural destination will celebrate UAE National Day in grand style from 26 November to 5 December. There will however be no entertainment at Global Village on 30 November, on account of Commemoration Day The highlights at Global Village include the first International Hot Air Balloon Festival that will be the very first activity that commences the UAE National Day Celebrations at the entertainment destination, Meet-and-Greet sessions by Shaabiat & Globo characters, and entertainment at the UAE Pavilion including cultural acts welcoming visitors to the UAE Pavilion.
The main stage will feature cultural shows representing the UAE traditional dances, in addition to parades, henna and face painting activities,  the Festival Dreams and the Cultural Bollywood Musical while the stunt arena will host the Hollywood Stunt Show. There will also be street performances throughout the park.
National Day celebrations at other shopping malls
Activities at BurJuman include roaming entertainment in the form of a Living Statue and artistes, a Live Painting exhibition featuring artists using the four colours of the UAE flag while shoppers will be served with coffee, dates and hats.
On 2 and 3 December, visitors to Reef Mall will be enthralled by carnival-like entertainment featuring roaming performers dressed in the colours of the UAE flag.Arabian Centre will organise Stage Performances such as Dabke, Tannoura, etc and offer traditional entertainment activities like Henna, Falcon display as part of the National Day celebrations at the mall. A Family focused event titled 'Emirates Wonderland' will be held in the Rimal sector of The Walk- JBR from 2 - 5 December and featuring activities for chidlren, food trucks, and stage entertainment, henna and  arts and crafts, and much more.