UAE to join Pakistan Independence Day celebrations at Expo City Dubai
Free Jashn-e-Azaadi Pakistan event to feature culture, cuisine and celebrity guests
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will participate in a major celebration to mark the 78th anniversary of Pakistan’s Independence Day, with a full-day event taking place at the Dubai Exhibition Centre in Expo City Dubai on Sunday, 10 August 2025.
Organised by Emirates Loves Pakistan in collaboration with the Pakistan Association Dubai, and supported by Dubai Police, the Jashn-e-Azaadi Pakistan 2025 festival will run from 11:00am to 11:00pm across South Halls 1, 2 and 3 of the exhibition venue. The free-to-attend event is expected to attract over 60,000 visitors from across the UAE.
Notable dignitaries attending include Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence, and Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE. Diplomats, community leaders and economic representatives will also be present.
Pakistan Independence Day
The event will showcase a wide range of cultural, artistic and family-friendly activities designed to reflect Pakistan’s rich heritage and honour the contributions of the Pakistani diaspora in the UAE. A central part of the day is the Pakistan Awards Ceremony, where prominent Pakistani community members will be honoured for their achievements. Awards will be presented by Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak himself.
The entertainment line-up includes live musical performances from celebrated Pakistani artists such as Sahir Ali Bagga, Natasha Baig, and poet-storyteller Yousuf Bashir Qureshi. Appearances are also expected from actor Humayun Saeed and cricketer Sana Mir, a member of the ICC Hall of Fame. Celebrity couple Hira and Mani will be bringing their on-screen magic to the Jashn-e-Azaadi Pakistan stage.
Beyond the main stage, the venue will feature regional folk music, children’s activity zones, art exhibitions, and interactive cultural stalls. Visitors can explore a curated food court offering authentic Pakistani cuisine, and browse a marketplace spotlighting Pakistani SMEs, artisans and homegrown brands.
How to attend?
Entry to Jashn-e-Azaadi Pakistan 2025 is free and open to all nationalities. To ease access, pre-registration is encouraged via the official event website.
Visitors can reach the Dubai Exhibition Centre using the Dubai Metro, which connects directly to Expo City. For those arriving by car, shuttle buses will operate between the Expo parking area and the venue halls.
The event is designed as a community celebration, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy a day of shared culture, storytelling, and national pride.
UAE-Pakistan ties
This year’s celebration also symbolises the deep diplomatic and cultural ties between the UAE and Pakistan, which date back to the formation of the UAE in 1971 under the leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
In 2025 alone, both countries have announced a strategic partnership in government modernisation and reiterated their commitment to collaboration across economic, commercial and cultural sectors.
The UAE remains one of the largest investors in Pakistan, with over $10 billion committed through public and private sector initiatives in industries such as IT, real estate, oil and gas, telecommunications, and tourism.
Events such as Jashn-e-Azaadi not only celebrate national milestones but also strengthen the sense of community and belonging among the 1.7 million+ Pakistani expatriates in the UAE, while promoting cross-cultural appreciation among the wider population.