The UAE is gearing up to mark the 54th Eid Al Etihad, with a range of events that blend heritage, art and family-friendly activities.
From workshops and traditional performances to large-scale festivals, the long weekend offers plenty of ways to connect with the country’s history and community spirit. Several emirates will also host fireworks displays, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.
Whether looking for hands-on crafts, outdoor celebrations, heritage experiences or cultural showcases, here are some events to take part in.
In Abu Dhabi
Yas Waterworld Yas Island
After opening its expansion earlier this year, the water park will be transformed with vibrant entertainment and heritage-inspired encounters, including spirited fisherman dance routines, appearances from beloved characters and activities such as pottery, basket weaving, calligraphy and falcon encounters. There will also be a beautifully decorated majlis area for guests to enjoy.
TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi
TeamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi is celebrating with a long weekend of immersive art, culture and performances. Expect Ayala dancers, coffee and dates, and explore the museum’s ever-changing digital artworks that blend tradition with cutting-edge technology. The visit can be rounded off at Anko, a Japanese cafe offering coffee, matcha and sweets with views of Saadiyat Cultural District.
Qasr Al Watan
Qasr Al Watan is marking the occasion with a programme celebrating the nation’s heritage and unity. Expect musical performances, traditional Ayala dances, Emirati hospitality, a falcon experience and guided cultural moments throughout the palace.
Highlights include the Qasr Al Watan Library, the House of Knowledge with its Golden Ink manuscripts exhibition, a daily Horse Marshal display at 5.45pm, and a Military Music Show on select days. Each evening will conclude with the Palace in Motion light and sound show at 6.30pm.
Al Qana
Al Qana will host a series of Eid Al Etihad celebrations each evening from 5pm to 11pm until December 3, featuring Emirati cultural experiences and family-friendly activities. Visitors can enjoy Ayala and Harbiyah performances, along with face painting, henna, pottery demonstrations, heritage crafts and a photo opportunity with falcons. The waterfront space will also feature dedicated areas for families to explore and take part in traditional arts.
Hudayriyat Island
Marsana on Hudayriyat Island is celebrating with a family-friendly festival on December 2. Held on the Green Lawn, the event will feature traditional performances, roaming entertainers and children’s activities, all set by the seashore. The celebration is from 3pm to 8pm.
Emirates Heritage Village
On December 1, Heritage Village will host a full day of celebrations from 8am to 6pm, featuring traditional Talli, Sadu and Khous weaving, Ayala performances and Emirati cuisine. Visitors can explore a community souq with local entrepreneurs, enjoy henna and family-friendly activities, and capture memories at dedicated photo booths.
In Dubai
Souk Madinat Jumeirah
The bazaar-style venue will host a two-day celebration from noon to 8pm on December 2 and 3, transforming its amphitheatre into a vibrant showcase of Emirati culture. Visitors can explore heritage huts offering Sadu, fishnet and carpet weaving, enjoy storytelling sessions, experience falconry displays and join children’s arts and crafts workshops.
City Centre Mirdif
The mall is celebrating with a pavilion featuring live oud performances, an interactive string-art wall, a photo booth and the immersive Voices from the Past audio experience. Visitors can also try the heritage claw machine or join creative workshops in pottery, tasbeeh-making, rope art and embroidery. The food and beverage area will serve hot chocolate in National Day-themed cups.
Expo City Dubai
Expo City Dubai is marking Eid Al Etihad with events across various venues. At the newly opened House of Arts, visitors can explore exhibitions, artist-led workshops and community activities inside the former Morocco Pavilion.
On December 2, the space will host National Day celebrations featuring tastings, children’s workshops, talli and burqa-making sessions, an art talk with Amna Abulhoul, a performance by the Firdaus Orchestra and film screenings by Cinema Akil.
Families can also visit Terra for the Nature & Wonder Festival on December 1 and 2, offering workshops, storytelling, camel rides and activities that highlight the UAE’s native flora and cultural heritage.
Al Shindagha Museum
From November 29 to December 3, the museum will host a series of cultural stops and workshops celebrating Emirati craftsmanship. Near Al Maktoum House, expect sessions in burqa sewing, Al Sadu weaving, making fishing gargoors, silversmithing and perfume blending, alongside folk performances such as Al Nahmah, Al Ayala and Al Yowla.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood & Hatta Heritage Village
On December 2 and 3, Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Hatta Heritage Village will host cultural performances and heritage activations, offering visitors a chance to enjoy traditional arts in two of Dubai’s most historic settings.
Etihad Museum
Etihad Museum's celebrations from December 1 to 3 will see the building illuminated in UAE flag colours and a programme highlighting the story of the Union. Visitors can explore interactive installations rooted in Emirati values, a VR station showcasing national achievements, hands-on planting and clay workshops, and heritage performances including Al Harbiya, Al Ayala and oud music.
In Sharjah
Al Layyah Canal
Al Layyah Canal in Sharjah is hosting Eid Al Etihad celebrations for the first time, with nightly events until December 2.
Visitors can enjoy Emirati folk performances such as Al Razfa and Al Ayala, interactive shows, light displays and a Sultan of Sharjah presentation by Al Shaer Band. The canal also features youth-led projects, heritage-inspired crafts and family-run stalls. There will also be children’s zones with art workshops and play areas.
Sharjah Museums Authority
Sharjah Museums Authority is marking the occasion with a programme of cultural activities across the emirate until December 3. As part of the celebrations, all SMA museums in Sharjah, Kalba and Khor Fakkan will offer free entry on December 2 and 3.
Highlights include heritage performances, educational workshops and interactive stations at sites such as Bait Sheikh Saeed Bin Hamad Al Qasimi in Kalba, Sharjah Fort and Hisn Khor Fakkan, alongside extended museum hours and guided tours.
Visitors can explore traditional crafts, maritime heritage showcases, children’s activities and community murals, as well as a range of exhibitions, from Andalusian cultural pieces to displays on native UAE plants and archaeological artefacts.
Kalba Kayak & Adventure Cafe
Absolute Adventure is celebrating the long weekend at Kalba Kayak & Adventure Cafe, set inside Al Qurm Mangrove Reserve. From November 29 to December 2, families can enjoy children’s activities and scenic outdoor experiences. Kayaking, sunset paddle sessions and bike rentals are available on a walk-in basis, while the cafe will offer a refreshed menu and views over the mangroves.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Elina Svitolina (UKR) [3] v Jennifer Brady (USA)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS) v Belinda Bencic (SUI [4]
Not before 7pm:
Sofia Kenin (USA) [5] v Elena Rybakina (KAZ)
Maria Sakkari (GRE) v Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) [7]
Court One
Starting at midday:
Karolina Muchova (CZE) v Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
Kristina Mladenovic (FRA) v Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR)
Veronika Kudermetova (RUS) v Dayana Yastermska (UKR)
Petra Martic (CRO) [8] v Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE)
Sorana Cirstea (ROU) v Anett Kontaveit (EST)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Innotech Profile
Date started: 2013
Founder/CEO: Othman Al Mandhari
Based: Muscat, Oman
Sector: Additive manufacturing, 3D printing technologies
Size: 15 full-time employees
Stage: Seed stage and seeking Series A round of financing
Investors: Oman Technology Fund from 2017 to 2019, exited through an agreement with a new investor to secure new funding that it under negotiation right now.
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
Scoreline
Ireland 16 (Tries: Stockdale Cons: Sexton Pens: Sexton 3)
New Zealand 9 (Pens: Barrett 2 Drop Goal: Barrett)
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UK’s AI plan
- AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
- £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
- £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
- £250m to train new AI models
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
RESULTS
Dubai Kahayla Classic – Group 1 (PA) $750,000 (Dirt) 2,000m
Winner: Deryan, Ioritz Mendizabal (jockey), Didier Guillemin (trainer).
Godolphin Mile – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Secret Ambition, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
Dubai Gold Cup – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (Turf) 3,200m
Winner: Subjectivist, Joe Fanning, Mark Johnston
Al Quoz Sprint – Group 1 (TB) $1million (T) 1,200m
Winner: Extravagant Kid, Ryan Moore, Brendan Walsh
UAE Derby – Group 2 (TB) $750,000 (D) 1,900m
Winner: Rebel’s Romance, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
Dubai Golden Shaheen – Group 1 (TB) $1.5million (D) 1,200m
Winner: Zenden, Antonio Fresu, Carlos David
Dubai Turf – Group 1 (TB) $4million (T) 1,800m
Winner: Lord North, Frankie Dettori, John Gosden
Dubai Sheema Classic – Group 1 (TB) $5million (T) 2,410m
Winner: Mishriff, John Egan, John Gosden
The story in numbers
18
This is how many recognised sects Lebanon is home to, along with about four million citizens
450,000
More than this many Palestinian refugees are registered with UNRWA in Lebanon, with about 45 per cent of them living in the country’s 12 refugee camps
1.5 million
There are just under 1 million Syrian refugees registered with the UN, although the government puts the figure upwards of 1.5m
73
The percentage of stateless people in Lebanon, who are not of Palestinian origin, born to a Lebanese mother, according to a 2012-2013 study by human rights organisation Frontiers Ruwad Association
18,000
The number of marriages recorded between Lebanese women and foreigners between the years 1995 and 2008, according to a 2009 study backed by the UN Development Programme
77,400
The number of people believed to be affected by the current nationality law, according to the 2009 UN study
4,926
This is how many Lebanese-Palestinian households there were in Lebanon in 2016, according to a census by the Lebanese-Palestinian dialogue committee
How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
