National Day celebrations kicked off across the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday with various celebrations and events across the states. Also known as 'Al-Eid Al Watani', this holiday, celebrated on December 2, commemorates the UAE's formal nationalisation from the British Protectorate Treaties in 1971.
Epic theatrical show ‘Legacy of Our Ancestors’ at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi was chosen as the official 48th National Day celebration, highlighting the UAE’s heritage and culture.
Inspired by local folklore, the show took spectators on a historical exploration of the UAE, brought to life through live performances, digital art, and visual and sound effects.
Google marked the UAE holiday with a signature Google Doodle, as in past years, featuring the UAE flag which also turned 48.
Superstars of south Indian cinema also celebrated UAE's National Day this year.
Mohanlal – the Kerala cinema superstar hugely popular among the south Indian diaspora in the Gulf – led the celebrations on December 2 near the Indian city of Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
The theme of the celebrations was 'Big Salute to UAE: the land of happiness, opportunity and tolerance'.