Eid Al Etihad community workshops tour the UAE ahead of 55th National Day
By Catherine Smith GST 2 min read
Eid Al Etihad community workshops will travel across all seven emirates between 10 and 24 September 2026, giving residents the chance to contribute personal stories and memories to the official celebrations for the UAE’s 55th National Day on 2 December.
The programme, organised by the 55th Eid Al Etihad team, covers eight workshops across 15 days, combining storytelling, crafts and creative activities. Contributions gathered at each session will feed into the final shape of this year’s national celebrations.
Where and when the workshops take place
The tour begins in Fujairah on 10 and 11 September, then moves to Ras Al Khaimah on 12 September, Sharjah on 13 September, Ajman on 14 September, and Umm Al Quwain on 15 September. Dubai follows on 18 and 19 September, with Al Ain on 20 and 21 September. The series concludes in Abu Dhabi on 23 and 24 September.
Registration closed on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. Those who signed up will have their applications reviewed by a committee. If selected, the resident is contacted directly by the Eid Al Etihad team with session details. Spaces are limited and the team encouraged early sign-ups.
The name Eid Al Etihad, meaning ‘Celebration of the Union’, was adopted as the official title for UAE National Day festivities, announced by the organising committee in November 2024 ahead of the 53rd celebration. The organisers described it as a return to the authentic Arabic title reflecting unity and belonging.
How resident contributions will shape the celebration
Eisa Alsubousi, Director of Strategic and Creative Affairs of the 55th Eid Al Etihad, said the workshops were central to how the event is being built this year.
‘Eid Al Etihad is a celebration we all share, and our communities should have a place in shaping how we celebrate it,’ he said. ‘Through the Eid Al Etihad workshops, we’re bringing people together to share their ideas, get creative and contribute in their own way. It’s about coming together, listening to one another and seeing what we can create when we celebrate our UAE together.’
Alsubousi added that the team is looking forward to seeing the ideas and creations that emerge from each session and incorporating them into this year’s programme.
The community involvement model is not new for the team. Last year, the Eid Al Etihad official website published a Merchandise Open Call for artists, designers, creative businesses and manufacturers across the UAE to apply to produce official merchandise for the 54th celebration, announced on 17 September 2025 in line with the Year of Community.
This year’s workshop circuit spans all seven emirates, including stops in each of the four smallest emirates on the Arabian Gulf coast. The full schedule as reported alongside the programme launch lists the Fujairah workshops in the Qidfa area of the emirate.
The registration shortlink for the workshops, published alongside the WAM announcement dated 4 September 2026, was bit.ly/JoinEE55. Organisers encouraged residents to share the link with family, friends and community members.
The 55th National Day marks 55 years since the federation was formed on 2 December 1971. Ras Al Khaimah, which hosts one of the workshop stops, joined as the seventh emirate in 1972.
The Abu Dhabi leg on 23 and 24 September is the final stop in the touring series before the wider celebrations build toward the 2 December date.
