Hey Raha blog · Dubai school life

UAE Flag Day, Commemoration Day and National Day at School: A 2026 Parent Guide

By Marie Adly · 7 October 2026

UAE Flag Day is Tuesday 3 November 2026, a normal school day with flags raised at 11am. Commemoration Day is Monday 30 November 2026, also a school day, with a minute of silence at 11.30am. The National Day (Eid Al Etihad) public holiday is Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026, and several Dubai private schools list 2–4 December as closed.

Last updated: 7 October 2026

November and December are some of my favourite weeks of the Dubai school year. The corridors fill with red, green, white and black, children come home singing the national anthem, and there's real pride in the air. There's also a lot to remember: a flag outfit one week, a quiet day of remembrance the next, then a National Day celebration and a long weekend.

Here's what each day means, when it falls in 2026, and how to get ready without a last-minute dash to the shops.

The 2026 dates at a glance

Dress-code emails for Flag Day and National Day often arrive a day or two before. Hey Raha reads your school emails and sends you and your helper one clear daily WhatsApp plan. Try Hey Raha free for 14 days.

Flag Day – Tuesday 3 November

Flag Day was started by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and first marked in 2013. It falls on the anniversary of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed becoming President in 2004.

The centrepiece is simple and moving: at 11am, flags are raised at the same moment across the country, at government buildings, workplaces and schools. Flag Day is not a public holiday, so school runs as normal, usually with a flag-raising ceremony, the national anthem and assemblies.

The National has reported that pupils often wear national dress or the colours of the UAE flag for school Flag Day celebrations. Check your school's email for exactly what it's asking for.

Commemoration Day – Monday 30 November

Commemoration Day honours the Emiratis who gave their lives serving the country. It's a quieter, more reflective day than the celebrations around it.

Under the national guidelines, flags fly at half-mast from 8am, there's a minute of silence at 11.30am, and flags are raised again at 11.31am as the national anthem plays. Schools take part with remembrance activities and flag ceremonies.

It's a good day for a gentle conversation at home about what remembrance means, in words that fit your child's age.

National Day (Eid Al Etihad) – 2 and 3 December

National Day marks the union of the emirates on 2 December 1971. In 2026 the UAE celebrates its 55th National Day, and the official public holiday is Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December.

Several Dubai private schools list Wednesday 2 to Friday 4 December as closed on their calendars. The Cabinet can move this holiday to the start or end of a week, so wait for official confirmation and your school's final email before booking anything.

The official theme for National Day celebrations is "Spirit of the Union," inspired by the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Schools usually hold their own celebration day in the days or weeks before the holiday, and some go as early as late November, so watch for the date in your school's emails.

What kids usually wear and bring

Every school sets its own plan, but these are the common requests:

• National dress or flag colours. A kandura or abaya, or simply clothes in red, green, white and black. A T-shirt in flag colours works well for little ones.
• Accessories like scarves, hair ribbons, badges or small flags, if the school allows them.
• Something for a class activity, such as a contribution to a shared snack table or a heritage item for show-and-tell, only if the school asks. Remember UAE school food rules: the national school food guide bans items such as sweets, chocolate, fried foods, sugary drinks and nuts in the school environment. Our KG packing checklist has more on lunchbox rules.
• A normal bag, unless told otherwise. It's still a school day.

Tip: Buy or dig out the outfit in October. Flag-colour clothes sell out fast, and one outfit can do Flag Day and National Day.

Photos at school celebrations

These are days you'll want to capture. This year, though, several Dubai and Sharjah schools have asked parents not to photograph or film other pupils or staff without consent, including at assemblies, and not to share such images in WhatsApp groups. Some allow photos only of your own child at invited events.

Check your school's rules before the day, and crop to your own child before posting. More detail is in new Dubai school rules for October 2026 and managing school emails and class WhatsApp groups.

Your November–December planning checklist

• ☐ Mid-October: Find or buy a flag-colour outfit (and check it still fits).
• ☐ Week of 26 October: Look for the school's Flag Day email and add the dress code to the weekly plan.
• ☐ Monday 2 November: Outfit out, accessories ready, helper briefed.
• ☐ Tuesday 3 November: Flag Day, with flag-raising at 11am.
• ☐ Monday 30 November: Commemoration Day, with a minute of silence at 11.30am.
• ☐ Late November: Note the school's National Day celebration date and closure dates.
• ☐ 2–3 December: National Day public holiday (check whether your school also closes on Friday 4 December).
• ☐ 14 December: Winter break begins. See the 2026-27 Dubai term dates.

If your helper handles mornings, put these dates in their plan early. Our helper briefing template has a "special days" column built for exactly this, and what's on in Dubai schools this month keeps the rest of the term's events in view.

Sources

• DEWA: UAE Flag Day
• UAE Ministry of Education: Public schools observe Commemoration Day
• UAE Ministry of Education: Academic Calendar 2026-2027 (PDF)
• UAE Government portal: Public holidays and "Spirit of the Union"
• UAE Legislation: Cabinet Resolution No. 27 of 2024 concerning public holidays
• The National: Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid calls on UAE residents to mark Flag Day (Flag Day at 11am; pupils wearing national dress or flag colours)
• Gulf News: UAE issues national guidelines for marking Commemoration Day
• What's On: There's just one UAE public holiday left in 2026 (27 Sep 2026)
• Gulf News: UAE bans junk food, sugary drinks in schools under new health guide
• Khaleej Times: Dubai schools tighten photography rules

Frequently asked questions

Is UAE Flag Day a school holiday?
No. Flag Day (3 November) is a normal school day. Schools usually mark it with a flag-raising at 11am and assemblies.

What should my child wear for Flag Day at school?
Pupils often wear national dress or the UAE flag colours (red, green, white and black). Follow your school's email for its exact dress code.

Are schools closed on Commemoration Day 2026?
The 2026-27 academic calendar doesn't close schools on Monday 30 November. Schools hold remembrance activities, including a minute of silence at 11.30am.

When is the National Day holiday in 2026?
The official public holiday is Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 December 2026. Several Dubai private schools list 2–4 December as closed, so check your school's calendar.

Can I take photos at my child's National Day assembly?
It depends on your school. Many now ask parents not to photograph other children or staff without consent. Check the rules and keep photos to your own child.

More from the blog: the Hey Raha blog hub. New here? Our practical guides walk through the day-to-day.