Eid Al Etihad 2025: Emirates marks UAE National Day with sky-high festivities
Lounges in Dubai serve machbous, ouzi, harees and Emirati desserts
DUBAI – Honouring 54 proud years of unity and progress, Emirates is elevating celebrations for UAE National Day with a vibrant mix of heritage, cuisine, entertainment and inflight cultural experiences.
On 2 December, all customers flying from Dubai will enjoy authentic Emirati flavours, while lounges at Dubai International Airport will feature an array of traditional delicacies.
Emirates is also marking the occasion across its headquarters, bringing together employees from across nationalities to celebrate the UAE’s cultural identity.
Celebrating the National Day
Festivities at the Emirates Group headquarters included a cake-cutting ceremony attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Sir Tim Clark and other senior executives. Students from Raffles World Academy performed the national anthem through a choir, band and dance ensemble. Employees explored a heritage village showcasing spice shops, henna artistry, traditional pottery, and vintage textile exhibits.
The Emirates Engineering team demonstrated how used paper is innovatively recycled into notebooks. The Emirates Group Youth Council hosted creative and interactive activities to engage staff.
Inflight experience
On 2 and 3 December, all Emirates passengers will receive Emirati-inspired sweet treats presented in mini gift boxes, with aircraft cabins illuminated in UAE flag colours. First and Business Class customers will enjoy fig frangipane and gahwa tart, while Premium Economy travellers will be served pistachio rahash tart and gahwa tart. Those in Economy Class will relish a batheeth creation with white chocolate and pistachios.
At the Emirates A380 Onboard Lounge, customers can relax with Arabic coffee and a selection of regional delights including date and cardamom cheesecake, aseeda cake, pistachio rahash tart, saffron bundt cake with hazelnut croquant and caramel cream frosting, and chocolate and cardamom bundt cake.
Cultural entertainment
On Emirates’ ice system, customers can choose from 71 Arabic films, including popular titles like Al Forsa Al Akhira and Al Eid Eiden. The platform features 32 Arabic TV shows, including Emirati productions such as Al Boom, Al Mtwassf, Al Sanaa’ and #ABTalks, along with premium content from streaming partner Shahid, including 220 Youm, Hmoud Wa Abouh, Al Sohba Al Holwa and Hazza.
Arabic documentaries such as Al Emarat: Masiret Al Ezza’ W Al Enjaz offer historical perspectives, while passengers can also explore 15 Arabic podcasts and an extensive audio selection of 151 Khaleeji albums and playlists by Emirati artists including Hussain Al Jassmi, Fayez Al Saeed and Hazza’ah Al Minhali.
Taste of tradition
In Emirates’ First Class Lounges in Dubai, customers can savour Emirati lamb ouzi, chicken machbous and harees served with cashew nut raitha, fried onions and dakkous, followed by desserts such as Umm Ali spheres, karak profiteroles, lommie kabeese cheesecake and bite-size treats like Emirati Luqaimat, kunafa pistachio and date mamoul.
Business Class Lounges will present locally sourced lamb ouzi, chicken majboos with cucumber yoghurt sauce, and desserts such as Arabic coffee delice, loomi and rose profiteroles, guerss ugaili cardamom sesame financiers, burnt gahwa chocolate tarts and traditional Emirati Luqaimat.
Customers across both lounges can also enjoy Emirates’ homemade ice-cream in locally inspired flavours of Baklava, Arabic coffee and dates.