Every mall, hotel and office in the country wants the same acts in the same week. That is the real problem with planning Eid Al Etihad. Here is what each performance actually is, what a full programme costs in 2026, and the one date in the calendar that must stay quiet.
Short answer
UAE National Day 2026 falls on Wednesday 2 December. It is the 55th anniversary of the union, now officially called Eid Al Etihad. A heritage troupe performing Al Ayyala or Al Razfa costs roughly 8,000 to 20,000 AED. Smaller acts such as a Tanoura show or themed stilt walkers run 1,500 to 4,000 AED. A full corporate programme with several acts usually lands between 15,000 and 60,000 AED. Book by early October, because the good troupes are gone by November.
What to know fast
- National Day 2026 is Wednesday 2 December. It is the 55th anniversary.
- The public holiday is 2 and 3 December, set by Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024.
- The official name is Eid Al Etihad, which means celebration of the union.
- Dubai's retail calendar runs the celebration from 30 November to 3 December.
- Commemoration Day is 30 November. It is a solemn day, not a celebration.
- Al Ayyala troupe: 8,000 to 20,000 AED. Smaller acts: 1,500 to 4,000 AED.
- A full programme with four acts: 15,000 to 60,000 AED.
- Book six to ten weeks ahead. Heritage troupes sell out first.
Build your programme
Pick an act for each part of the day. You will get a running order with costs, a total, and a brief you can send to artists in one tap.
The dates you are planning around
Start here, because everything else hangs off the calendar.
National Day 2026 falls on Wednesday 2 December. It marks 55 years since the seven emirates came together under one flag in 1971. The public holiday covers 2 and 3 December.
You may have seen the name change on posters and on television. The day is now officially called Eid Al Etihad. It means celebration of the union. It is not a new holiday. It is a return to the Arabic title the founders used, brought back for the 53rd celebration. Both names are still used, so pick the one your audience knows.
One more date matters for planners. Dubai's official retail calendar runs the celebration from 30 November to 3 December. So malls and shop events often start before the holiday itself.
Plan the week, not the day
Most company and school events happen in the days before 2 December. The holiday itself is for families. So if you book for a company, you are competing for performers on 26 November to 1 December, not on the day.
The day that is not a celebration
This is the section that matters most, and the one almost no event supplier mentions.
Commemoration Day falls on 30 November. It honours Emiratis who gave their lives serving the country. That covers military, civil and aid work. It was set up in 2015 by the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
It is a solemn occasion with a fixed national protocol.
What happens on 30 November
- The flag is lowered to half mast from 8:00am.
- At 11:30am there is one minute of silence across the country.
- At 11:31am the flag is raised again while the national anthem plays.
- Government bodies follow a published protocol and flag guide.
- Wahat Al Karama in Abu Dhabi is the national memorial for this day.
So do not schedule music, dancing or a party on the morning of 30 November. Does your event fall on that date? Hold the ceremony, join the silence, and start the fun later in the day or move it.
Getting this wrong is not a small mistake. For Emirati colleagues and guests, it reads as disrespect, and no amount of budget afterwards fixes it. Ask your venue what they are observing and build your schedule around it.
The heritage performances explained
Most briefs say traditional dancers. Knowing the actual names gets you a better show and a better price, because you can ask for exactly what fits your space.
| Performance | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Al Ayyala | Two rows of men and boys with thin bamboo canes, moving as one to drums. Often called the stick dance. On the UNESCO list since 2014. | Main show, stage, big spaces |
| Al Razfa | Two facing lines with dancers between them. A lead singer trades verses with the group. Performers carry wooden replica rifles. Listed by UNESCO in 2015. | Opening ceremonies, outdoor plazas |
| Yowla | The circling movement within Ayyala, where performers spin and toss canes. Sometimes booked as a short feature. | A highlight inside a larger set |
| Al Taghrooda | Bedouin poetry that is chanted, not sung. It was once performed around a fire or on a journey. | Quiet, formal moments and majlis settings |
| Al Azi | A praise poetry form, performed standing, revived through heritage programmes. | Ceremonial openings |
| Al Harbiya | A desert performance that blends elements of Ardah, Ayyala and Razfa. | Outdoor and heritage village settings |
| Heritage drummers | Small group of drummers who can lead guests between areas. | Processions and transitions |
Two practical notes that change your plan.
- Ayyala is big. A full troupe can be two rows of 20 or more performers. If your atrium holds 12, say so when you enquire and ask for a smaller formation.
- Razfa uses replica rifles. They are wooden props, but many venues and malls still need advance notice and security clearance. Raise it early, never on the day.
Need a troupe that fits your space?
Send your venue size, date and running order. You will get performers who have worked that kind of space, with formation sizes already confirmed.
Browse heritage performersWhat a National Day programme costs
Rates climb through November. The same troupe that quotes one number in September quotes a higher one in late November, if they are still free at all.
Small Ayyala group
4,000 to 9,000 AEDSix to ten performers with a drummer. Fits a mall atrium or a lobby.
Full Ayyala or Razfa troupe
8,000 to 20,000 AEDTwelve to twenty performers with drummers and a lead singer.
Large ceremonial troupe
20,000 to 45,000 AEDTwenty or more performers for a stage or a government ceremony.
Khaleeji singer with band
10,000 to 30,000 AEDA full live set. Known names cost considerably more.
Oud player or solo singer
3,000 to 8,000 AEDAnthem, ceremony and quiet background music.
Tanoura show
1,200 to 2,500 AEDOne performer, 15 to 20 minutes. Popular with families.
Themed stilt walkers
1,800 to 3,500 AEDCostumes in national colours. Strong for mall foot traffic.
Gahwa and dates hosts
1,200 to 3,000 AEDArabic coffee service in traditional dress at the entrance.
Falcon display
3,000 to 8,000 AEDA handler with birds and a photo station. Needs space and care.
These are market ranges, not fixed quotes. Ask for performer numbers, set length and travel as separate lines, because a troupe quote with no headcount tells you nothing.
What moves the price
- How late you book. The single biggest factor in this particular season.
- Troupe size. Each performer adds to the fee and to the space you need.
- Number of sets. Two short sets across a day cost more than one.
- Multiple days. Malls often run four days, which needs rotation.
- Travel. Many heritage troupes are based in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the northern emirates.
- Filming rights. If the footage runs as advertising, that is agreed separately.
Building a running order that works
A National Day event is a programme, not a single act. The order matters more than the budget.
- ArrivalGahwa and dates at the door, with hosts in national dress. Simple, warm and unmistakably Emirati.
- GatheringDrummers or a small Ayyala group to pull people in from the car park and the lifts.
- The ceremonyThe national anthem, then a short speech. Keep it tight. This is the formal centre of the day.
- Main showThe full troupe. Fifteen to twenty minutes is plenty, and it should be the loudest moment of the event.
- MinglingRoaming acts, a sketch artist, a henna corner and photo moments while people eat.
- CloseA short second set or a group photo under the flag. Decide the finish time in advance.
One rule from people who run these events every year. Do not stack three big acts back to back. The room gets tired, and the third troupe plays to half a crowd.
Modern acts that still feel national
Heritage acts carry the meaning. Modern acts carry the energy and the photos. Most strong programmes use both.
- Themed stilt walkers. Costumes in red, green, white and black. They stop foot traffic better than anything else in a mall. The usual rules on ceiling height and floor surface still apply. Our guide to light based walkabout acts covers that side.
- Living statues. Figures in heritage dress who hold still and surprise people. Low noise, strong photos.
- Tanoura. Not Emirati in origin, but long established here and loved by families. Our guide to the spinning skirt show covers prices and space.
- Live sketch artists. Guests drawn in national dress, on paper printed with your logo. See how live sketching is priced and staffed.
- Henna corners. Always busy at family and office events. Allow a long queue.
- LED flag shows. Light costumes or screens forming the flag. Needs a dark space to work.
Need your staff to talk to visitors? Pair the act with promotional staff who handle the conversations. The show gathers the crowd and your team does the work.
Getting the details right
This is a national occasion, not a themed party. A few things are worth confirming before the day.
Points to agree in the brief
- The flag. The UAE has an official flag protocol guide. The flag is not a tablecloth, a floor covering, a costume prop or something to print on disposable items.
- The anthem. Play it in full, at the start, with everyone standing. Do not use it as background music later.
- National dress. Kandura and abaya worn by hosts should be accurate and worn respectfully. It is formal clothing, never a costume joke.
- Replica rifles. Common in Al Razfa. Tell the venue and security well in advance.
- Mixed troupes. Ayyala and Razfa are traditionally performed by men. Ask what the troupe offers rather than assuming.
- Photography. Agree with the troupe what can be filmed and posted.
- Images of the leadership. Use official portraits properly and never alter them.
Good troupes will raise most of this themselves. If a supplier brushes past these points, that tells you something about how they will handle the day. Our guide on warning signs when dealing with agents here covers the wider pattern.
Space, sound and staging
- Floor area. A small Ayyala group needs about 6 metres by 4 metres. A full troupe needs much more, often 10 metres across.
- Surface. Flat and firm. Canes and feet both move fast.
- Ceiling height. Canes are raised overhead. Watch for low lighting rigs and decorations.
- Sound. Drums are loud and need no amplification. A lead singer usually needs one microphone.
- Crowd distance. Keep guests about two metres back, more for Razfa.
- Changing space. Troupes arrive in street clothes and change on site. They need a private room.
- Timing. Allow 45 minutes between arrival and the first set.
- Outdoors. Shade and water, and an evening slot if it is still warm.
Need the whole day coordinated? A production team that runs the whole event will handle staging, sound and the running order around the acts.
Permits and venue rules
Private company and school events held by invitation do not need a public event permit.
Public and ticketed events in Dubai do. The permit comes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. It covers festivals, public shows and ticketed events.
Malls approve their own events. During National Day week that takes longer than usual, because every brand in the building applies at once. Start in October.
Also confirm that performers can legally work in the UAE. Freelance permits and employment status are different things. Our guide to the work routes creative talent uses here explains the difference. Official guidance sits on the UAE government portal.
Questions to ask before you book
Booking checklist
- How many performers are in the troupe, and can the formation be smaller?
- Which performance do you do, Ayyala, Razfa or something else?
- Can you send video from a National Day event last year?
- How long is each set, and how many are included?
- Do you bring drums, canes and costumes?
- Do you use replica rifles, and what do you need from our venue?
- What floor area and ceiling height do you need?
- Where are you based, and what is the travel charge?
- Are you available for multiple days in that week?
- What is the deposit, and what is the cancellation policy?
- Are all performers legally able to work in the UAE?
- Can you confirm all of this in writing?
How to book in five steps
- Fix the date early. Decide which day in the week before 2 December your event runs. Most companies are competing for the same three days.
- Measure the space. Floor area and ceiling height decide which troupe size is even possible.
- Plan the programme, not one act. Use the builder above to sketch arrival, ceremony, main show and roaming.
- Shortlist three suppliers. Ask all of them the same questions, and compare performer numbers rather than headline prices.
- Confirm in writing, then pay the deposit. Date, times, performer count, props, travel and payment terms.
Comparing performers on a marketplace? It helps to know how profiles are ordered and scored. Then you know what you are looking at.
Mistakes that spoil the day
- Booking in late November. The best troupes are gone, and what is left costs more.
- Scheduling a party on 30 November. The most serious mistake on this page.
- Ordering a full troupe for a small atrium. Twenty performers need real floor space.
- Forgetting the replica rifles. Security stops the act at the loading door.
- Three big acts in a row. Spread them out and let the room breathe.
- Treating the flag as decor. Follow the protocol guide instead.
- Playing the anthem as background music. It belongs at the start, in full.
- No changing room. Troupes cannot change in a corridor.
- Booking only modern acts. A National Day event with no heritage content feels hollow, and Emirati guests notice.
Questions people ask
When is UAE National Day 2026?
Wednesday 2 December 2026. It marks the 55th anniversary of the union of the seven emirates in 1971. The official public holiday covers 2 and 3 December under Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024.
Why is UAE National Day now called Eid Al Etihad?
Eid Al Etihad means celebration of the union. It is not a new holiday. The Arabic title used by the nation's founders was brought back for the 53rd celebration. Both names are still used widely.
How much does National Day entertainment cost in the UAE?
A full Al Ayyala or Al Razfa troupe costs roughly 8,000 to 20,000 AED. A smaller group is 4,000 to 9,000 AED. Tanoura shows and themed stilt walkers run 1,200 to 3,500 AED. A complete programme with four acts usually lands between 15,000 and 60,000 AED.
What is Al Ayyala?
Al Ayyala is the best known Emirati heritage performance, often called the stick dance. Two rows of men and boys hold thin bamboo canes and move in unison to a steady drum rhythm, with poetry and chanting. It was inscribed on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in 2014.
What is the difference between Al Ayyala and Al Razfa?
Both use two facing lines of male performers. Ayyala uses thin bamboo canes in a mock battle formation. Razfa has a lead singer who trades verses with the group, dancers moving between the lines, and wooden replica rifles. Razfa was listed by UNESCO in 2015.
Can I hold a National Day party on 30 November?
No. Commemoration Day falls on 30 November and honours Emiratis who died in service. The flag is lowered at 8:00am, there is a minute of silence at 11:30am, and the flag is raised again at 11:31am with the anthem. Hold celebrations on another day.
How far ahead should I book National Day performers?
Six to ten weeks, so early October for a 2 December event. Heritage troupes are the first to sell out because every mall, hotel, school and company wants them in the same week.
How much space does an Ayyala troupe need?
A small group of six to ten performers needs about 6 metres by 4 metres. A full troupe of twenty or more needs much more, often 10 metres across, plus ceiling clearance because the canes are raised overhead.
Do Razfa performers really carry rifles?
They carry wooden replicas as part of the tradition. They are props, not working guns. Even so, many venues and malls want notice and a security check first. Raise it when you book, not on the day.
Do I need a permit for a National Day event?
A private company or school event held by invitation does not need a public event permit. Public and ticketed events in Dubai need one from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Mall activations need separate approval from the mall.
Can non Emirati performers wear national dress?
Hosts and greeters often do, and it is normal at these events. The clothing should be accurate, worn respectfully and never treated as a costume joke. Agree it with the supplier and the venue when you book.
Can I book heritage troupes outside Dubai?
Yes, and many are based in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the northern emirates. Expect a travel charge, and for a very early start or a late finish, possibly accommodation.
Find performers for your National Day event
Gulf Got Talents links brands, schools, malls and venues with heritage troupes, musicians, dancers and roaming acts. We cover the UAE and the wider Gulf. Compare profiles and message performers directly.
Prices in this guide are market ranges taken from public UAE booking platforms and supplier listings in 2026. They are a planning guide, not a quote. Holiday dates are set by Cabinet resolution and can be moved. Permit rules and venue policies change too. Check current details before you plan around them.