As always, the Emirates prepared for their country's birthday in advance and held numerous celebrations with great fanfare. In the capital of Abu Dhabi, a festive fireworks show was prepared by the Emirates Palace Hotel, which should be included in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest pyrotechnic show. According to the organizers, the charges shot up to a height of 482.8 meters. Three barges with pyrotechnic installations were located opposite the hotel, 5 others along the Abu Dhabi promenade. The show, which began on December 2 at exactly 8.30 p.m., lasted as long as 45 minutes. Other celebrations held in the capital include: daily 20-minute festive fireworks in front of the ADNEC building, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Al Bateen pier and Beach Palace on Al Dhallam Street; poetry evening held at the Abu-Dhabi Theater on December 1; Races on traditional Dhow boats along the Abu Dhabi promenade; horse races in the territory of Bu Dhib stables, as well as performances by famous Arab artists Muhammad Abdu, Nancy Ajram, Fadi Shaker and others.
In the second largest and most important emirate of Dubai, a festive parade was held early in the morning of December 2, dedicated to the 38th anniversary of the UAE. It took place in the pedestrian zone of the new urban area Burj Dubai Down Town. The Dubai police units, a military band, representatives of the Committee on Roads and Transport (RTA) took part in the festive procession, over the column of which parade participants carried huge inflatable mock-ups of the car and the metro station recently opened in Dubai. The parade was greeted by representatives of the ruling Al Maktoum family, headed by His Highness Sheikh Maktum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the deputy ruler of Dubai, members of the government, and many honored guests. At the end of the parade, balloons soared into the sky with the emblem of the 38th anniversary of the UAE and the slogan “Live United”.
Another unique event of the holiday was the Al Sinyar Sea Carnival, which was also held under the patronage of the Deputy Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Maktum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Eighty boats, led by a flagship, on the bow of which stood His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Muhammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Office of Culture and Art, paid tribute to the cultural traditions of his country. Boats departing from Al Seef marina completed the historic Al Gafal maritime tour of Dubai Creek, which was once done by the Emirates sailors returning from pearls traditional for Dubai. Ships moored near the Al Fardha Museum, specially built for this occasion, in the Shindag area, in order to show everyone the maritime history of Dubai and the UAE. At the end of the carnival, a concert was prepared by students from several schools in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as well as other UAE emirates: Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Umm Al-Quwain and RasAl Khaimah, numerous celebrations took place under the roofs of shopping centers and in open areas. In memory of the country's first president, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the website www.ourfatherzayed.ae was created, in Arabic and English, telling about the fate of this great emirate, the father of the nation. In the evening, salutes of festive salutes were sounded in all emirates. Happy Birthday, UAE!
