Khaleej Times

HISTORY OF UAE LIVE ON STAGE

A PUPPET SHOW DISPLAYING THE UNIQUE HERITAGE OF THE UAE IS SET TO WOW VISITORS

- Ismail Sebugwaawo ismail@khaleejtim­es.com

Apuppet show that tells the history of the UAE and the country’s nature conservati­on efforts will be the highlight of this year’s National Day (N-Day) celebratio­ns in the Capital.

More than 22,000 people are expected to witness the Official 47th UAE National Day celebratio­ns at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on December 2.

Organisers of the event ‘This is Zayed. This is the UAE’ on Monday said that preparatio­ns are underway for the big day and arrangemen­ts are almost in place.

With the celebratio­ns dedicated as a tribute to mark founding father Sheikh Zayed’s 100th birthday, 1,500 male and female performers comprising 70 per cent Emiratis, will entertain people on a stage built of 20,900 pixels, which required over 4,200 scaffolds to develop.

Alongside the incredible visual displays, the event will also include live musical performanc­es from the Royal Philharmon­ic Orchestra, alongside 150 Emirati musicians, with poems and music which have been specifical­ly written for the celebratio­ns.

Renowned artists, musicians and performers from the UK, Egypt and other nations will also present live performanc­es paying tribute to ‘47 Glorious Years of Unity.’ The puppet show titled ‘Greening of the desert performanc­e’ will see 45 animal puppets, including 18 gazelles, eight flamingos, five Arabia Oryx, six Houbara birds, a desert fox and a caracal in a three-minute show that portrays how the UAE is keen on nature conservati­on.

Abdulla Al Qubaisi, member of the organising committee, said: “The celebratio­ns will highlight Sheikh Zayed’s love for nature and how he sought to protect that for future generation­s. It will also show how he was keen on providing the

70% Of performers at the N-Day celebratio­ns are Emiratis

people of the UAE with world class healthcare and education. These are milestones which Sheikh Zayed looked to achieve for the benefit of the entire nation.”

He added that this year’s celebratio­ns will also pay tribute to the Foundation of the Union at Saih Al Sidirah, where the late Sheikh Zayed forged a new path for the future of the seven Emirates of the UAE with the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum.

The UAE national costumes designs including those dating way back from the 60s to date will also be shown at the event. The cloth designs include old traditiona­l kandouras, women dresses designed in cotton and silk, and children garments.

 ?? File photo ?? Students dressed up in traditiona­l attire holding UAE flag-coloured balloons as part of last year’s National Day celebratio­ns. —
File photo Students dressed up in traditiona­l attire holding UAE flag-coloured balloons as part of last year’s National Day celebratio­ns. —
 ??  ?? Abdullah Al Qubaisi briefs the media on the preparatio­ns of the National Day celebratio­ns.
Abdullah Al Qubaisi briefs the media on the preparatio­ns of the National Day celebratio­ns.
 ??  ?? Abdulla Al Qubaisi.
Abdulla Al Qubaisi.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Arab Emirates