How much does Union Day cost per person?

AED 450 per person for 50–99 people; AED 390 per person for 100–199 people; AED 350 per person for 200+ people. All figures exclude 5% VAT. A group below a band's minimum chargeable size is billed at that minimum: 96 people in the 50–99 band, 121 people in the 100–199 band. Where a larger band costs less in total, it is quoted instead: groups of 180–199 are billed as 200 people at the rate for 200+ people.

How long does Union Day take, and when does it start?

3.5 hrs. Ideal start: 12:30 — runs through lunch, so it costs the client half a day rather than an evening. Departure window: 12:00–19:00.

What is not included in Union Day?

Alcohol — deliberately excluded; Fireworks (permit-dependent, priced on request); Transport; 5% VAT. These are stated before enquiry rather than raised at invoice time.

What happens to Union Day if the weather turns?

Trigger: None where it runs indoors, which is the default. Outdoor courtyard formats carry a wind and rain trigger. Fallback: Indoor delivery at the client's premises is the standing fallback for any outdoor format — the whole build is modular by design. Performer availability is the real risk in this window, and a contracted backup troupe is booked from the point of sale, not sourced if the first one cancels. You are told: Immediate for any format change.

I-04 Ceremony Oct – Apr

Union Day

An Emirati National Day celebration that is not a table of dates and a flag. Ayyala performers, a majlis build, a proper Emirati buffet and an MC who can host in both languages.

A team mid-programme on Union Day — Anywhere in the UAE, the client's own office atrium, or a hotel function room. — Illustrative

Duration: 3.5 hrs
Ideal start time: 12:30 — runs through lunch, so it costs the client half a day rather than an evening
Departure window: 12:00–19:00
Group size: 50 min — 400 max
Emirate / venue: Anywhere in the UAE — the client's own office atrium, or a hotel function room
Season: Late November to early December. UAE National Day is 2 December; the sellable window is 25 Nov – 5 Dec
Booking lead time: 30 days — every performer and venue in the country is booked for this week

Price per person · excluding VAT

Group size	Price per person
50–99 pax Billed from 96 people	AED 450
100–199 pax Billed from 121 people	AED 390
200+ pax	AED 350

Where a larger band costs less in total, it is quoted instead: groups of 180–199 are billed as 200 people at the rate for 200+ people.

50% advance on signature. 100% cleared 3 working days before the event.

Numbers lock 7 days prior. Booking lead time: 30 days — every performer and venue in the country is booked for this week.

Last updated 4 November 2026.

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Why this is not the retail version

The version most companies run costs about AED 80 a person and it is a flag banner in the canteen, a tray of dates and an email. Everybody recognises it for what it is.

The gap this fills is specific. National Day is the one date in the UAE calendar where a company's Emirati and long-resident staff notice whether the effort was real. A hired Ayyala troupe, a majlis that people actually sit in, and machboos rather than a sandwich platter is the difference between a gesture and an acknowledgement — and it is read that way by exactly the people it matters to.

The practical argument is availability. Every performer, caterer and function room in the UAE is committed for the week of 2 December, most of them by early November. A company deciding on 20 November that it wants to do something is choosing between what is left. The thirty-day lead time on this package is not caution, it is the market.

It also runs at lunchtime, in the client's own building. No venue hire, no transport, half a working day. That is why it sells to companies that would never approve an evening event.

The day, minute by minute

Timeline

07:00 Build begins — majlis, decor, staging, gahwa station
12:30 Doors open. Gahwa and dates at the entrance, oud playing
12:45 Guests settle into the majlis setting. Henna and calligraphy stations open
13:15 Bilingual MC opens. Short address by the senior leader
13:30 Ayyala performance — the traditional stick dance, live drums, full troupe
14:15 Emirati buffet opens
15:00 Heritage stations — falcon display, Arabic coffee ceremony, traditional dress photo corner
15:45 Group photograph in national colours
16:00 Close

Included

Venue — client's own atrium, or a hotel function room, half day
Emirati themed decor and majlis setup — seating, carpets, sadu textiles, palm and flag detailing
Ayyala troupe, one hour
Henna, Arabic calligraphy and gahwa stations
Emirati buffet — machboos, harees, luqaimat, full dietary coverage
Bilingual MC for four hours
Sound and lighting
Branded gifting — flag pin, ghutra or equivalent, one per attendee
Full custom branding — entrance, stage, photo wall
Photographer, videographer and an edited 90-second reel within 5 working days
Two event coordinators on site

Not included

Stated up front so there is nothing to argue about at invoice time.

Alcohol — deliberately excluded
Fireworks (permit-dependent, priced on request)
Transport
5% VAT

Weather & backup plan

Trigger: None where it runs indoors, which is the default. Outdoor courtyard formats carry a wind and rain trigger.
Fallback: Indoor delivery at the client's premises is the standing fallback for any outdoor format — the whole build is modular by design. Performer availability is the real risk in this window, and a contracted backup troupe is booked from the point of sale, not sourced if the first one cancels.
You are told by: Immediate for any format change.

Customisation options

Falconry display	AED 1,800
Traditional dress hire for photographs, per station	AED 2,400/event
Upgrade gifting — engraved brass, dallah or perfume set	AED 90–250/person
Emirati heritage speaker, 30 min	AED 3,500
Camel arrival at the entrance	AED 2,400/event
Live oud through the buffet	AED 1,500
Fireworks or cold-spark finale	Priced on request, permit-dependent
Full 5-minute film of the day	AED 3,200
Combine with a Flag Day activation on 3 November	AED 12,000/event

Questions about Union Day

How much does Union Day cost per person?: AED 450 per person for 50–99 people; AED 390 per person for 100–199 people; AED 350 per person for 200+ people. All figures exclude 5% VAT. A group below a band's minimum chargeable size is billed at that minimum: 96 people in the 50–99 band, 121 people in the 100–199 band. Where a larger band costs less in total, it is quoted instead: groups of 180–199 are billed as 200 people at the rate for 200+ people.
How long does Union Day take, and when does it start?: 3.5 hrs. Ideal start: 12:30 — runs through lunch, so it costs the client half a day rather than an evening. Departure window: 12:00–19:00.
What is not included in Union Day?: Alcohol — deliberately excluded; Fireworks (permit-dependent, priced on request); Transport; 5% VAT. These are stated before enquiry rather than raised at invoice time.
What happens to Union Day if the weather turns?: Trigger: None where it runs indoors, which is the default. Outdoor courtyard formats carry a wind and rain trigger. Fallback: Indoor delivery at the client's premises is the standing fallback for any outdoor format — the whole build is modular by design. Performer availability is the real risk in this window, and a contracted backup troupe is booked from the point of sale, not sourced if the first one cancels. You are told: Immediate for any format change.
How far in advance do we need to book Union Day?: The booking lead time is 30 days — every performer and venue in the country is booked for this week. Ramadan and December dates book out first.