Abu Dhabi, November 30: Cars decorated with the national flag and images of the Rulers are a common sight on Abu Dhabi streets.
Apart from the people’s party on the Corniche with chanting, singing, dancing and, of course, engine revving and car horning, the Capital is preparing quite a few treats for the celebration of the UAE National Day.
Emirates Heritage Club will start the celebrations on December 1 with an evening of Nabati poetry at its Abu Dhabi Theatre.
On December 2, a traditional dhow race will take place along the Corniche, between 4pm and 5 pm, while on December 5, from 6am, the UAE National Day Endurance Race will start at the Bu Dhib stables, near Al Khatem.
Throughout the holidays, the Heritage Village will open its tents in the afternoon, where traditional Emirati sweets and coffee will be prepared and served for the visitors, while Bedouin folk songs will be performed by a group of local Emirati men.
The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage is also preparing a few surprises.
Between December 2 and 4, a cultural programme will unroll behind Hilton Hotel, which will include a children’s library, theatre performance and a traditional tent.
Similar activities will take place at Al Ain’s Cultural Village and cultural centres in Al Gharbia.
The big surprise, though, will be a number of well known Arab singers, performing throughout the emirate, including Mohammed Abdou (Al Ain), Nancy Ajram (Abu Dhabi), Fadl Shaker, Sherine Abdel Wahab (Abu Dhabi and Al Ain), Abdul Menem Al Ameri and Abdullah Al Rewaished (Madinat Zayed).
Emirates Palace too will join in the celebrations, starting with an exhibition on November 30, of a 38 tiered National Day cake, a display of 38 types of dates, an exclusive public showing of a painting by Van Merbeck of Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and an authentic traditional Bedouin tent.
The most spectacular promise comes from Emirates Palace, which claims to provide the world’s largest pyrotechnics display that will vie for a Guinness World Record on December 2.
The entire skyline of Abu Dhabi will be alight with fireworks going up to 2,000 metres high.
Three barges will be located at Emirates Palace Marina Bay and five alongside the West Corniche Road with synchronised music.
The show will start at 8.30pm and go on for 45 minutes.
A further four locations will display fireworks for 20 minutes – opposite ADNEC, Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Al Bateen Marina and Beach Palace Al Dhallam Street. The fireworks will continue for one week, every evening after sunset.
–Agencies