It was a bright, breezy weekend across the UAE, and for many families, the extended holidays around National Day became the perfect excuse to embrace the outdoors, gather friends, and soak up a festive atmosphere.

With the weekend of Saturday and Sunday, December 1 and 2, extended by Monday and Tuesday as official holidays, the country has been enjoying a long, four-day break.

Parks have been buzzing, special events are underway, fireworks are lighting up the skies, and with discounts on offer, the vibe has been a heady mix of celebration, relaxation, and togetherness across the Emirates.

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Countless families have flocked to beaches, cultural hubs, and entertainment venues to mark theEid Al Etihad holiday.

For one expat mother, the weekend felt like a warm reunion at home. Kazakh resident Karina Shashkova, mother of three, described the scene as “a really warm, cosy gathering” when her circle of friends got together for a Secret Santa on Sunday at her place in Dubai Hills.

“We did Secret Santa with friends at my place, and it turned into a really cosy gathering. After exchanging gifts, we fired up the grill for a BBQ in the backyard and prepared lamb chops. We even organised a small raffle between four families — it was anonymous, which made it even more fun. I ended up getting pyjamas from Victoria’s Secret from one of my girlfriends, exactly what I had put on my wishlist. At the end, we were all laughing and trying to guess who everyone’s Secret Santa was. We’re not meeting as often now because many of us have long travel plans during the winter vacations."

Karina Shashkova with her family

Karina Shashkova with her friends

From gift swaps to barbecues, laughter and baby‑chatter — for Karina and her friends, the long weekend became an opportunity to reconnect before the winter holidays set in.

In the town of Al Ain, the long weekend was less about home and more about open skies and family time.

Syrian expat Aiham Joratli, who has lived in the UAE for 17 years and now calls Al Ain home with his two young children and wife, said that this holiday felt like a perfect balance of family bonding, fresh air and a renewed sense of belonging.

“My wife is a dentist, and she will be working till about 3pm today, after which she’ll join us for lunch at a mall. Then we’re all heading to Global Village in the evening since it’s not too far from Al Ain,” he said.

Aiham Joratli with his children

Notably, popular destinations such as Global Village have lit up with nightly fireworks from December 1 to 3, complemented by UAE‑themed drone shows, cultural performances and theatrical displays under this year’s festive banner.

“Since morning, I’ve taken the kids outdoors — and honestly, I’ve been enjoying it just as much as they have.”

Joratli explained how their day was intentionally planned around embracing the outdoors and the festive spirit.

“We woke up early, went to Al Jahili Park in Al Ain and enjoyed the lovely weather. We did some of the free activities the park offers, like the exercise sets. Then we went to a restaurant for our traditional breakfast — falafel and hummous — and now we’re back home for a bit before heading to Al Jimi Mall.”

For Aiham and his family, the holiday also felt like a time to reflect — to take pride in being part of the UAE community.

“Two days ago, we watched the Airshow in Al Ain on the occasion of the UAE National Day, which painted the sky in the colours of the flag. Moments like that make you feel the unity and pride everywhere — it’s something we really look forward to as a family each year.”

Meanwhile, some expat families traded city bustle for mountain trails. Geetika Talwalkar and her group chose adventure as their mode of celebration.

“We spent the long weekend hiking at the Bear Grylls camp. On the first day we did a two‑hour trail, and the children had an absolute blast exploring the outdoors. We cooked together and barbecued in the evening — we were three families travelling as a group. Bear Grylls was our base location, and we did the hikes on our own on both Saturday and Sunday. The second day’s hike was a little longer, and by then the kids had really settled into the rhythm of being in nature."

Geetika Talwalkar with family and friends

She described how rustic the experience was — and how refreshing.

“We stayed in these container-style cabins that have been converted into surprisingly comfortable rooms. But you have to carry everything — all your ingredients, vessels, everything you need for cooking — and then use the BBQ pits there to grill your meals. There were around 20 such containers, and they were all fully occupied over the extended weekend. In total, we were six adults and six children. Today, after all the trekking and barbecuing, we’re just chilling and heading to a friend’s place for a house party.”