Commemoration Day (UAE)
Commemoration Day, held on 30 November each year, honours Emiratis who gave their lives in military, civil and humanitarian service to the UAE.
- UK (not marked)
- USA (not marked)
- Ireland (not marked)
- Canada (not marked)
- Australia (not marked)
- New Zealand (not marked)
- UAE and Gulf
- International (not marked)
About the day
Commemoration Day was declared in 2015 by the late President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. It honours members of the UAE's military, civil and humanitarian services who died in service to the nation, and recognises the families they left behind.
The day also remembers Salem Suhail Khamis, the first Emirati soldier to die in the line of duty, in 1971. Wahat Al Karama in Abu Dhabi is among the national memorials linked to the day.
Flags fly at half-mast in the morning. A minute of silence is held at 11.30am, and at 11.31am the flag is raised as the national anthem plays, with remembrance activities in government bodies, schools and institutions across the country.
Dates for the next three years
| Year | Date | Where | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday 30 November 2026 | UAE and Gulf | Same date every year |
| 2027 | Tuesday 30 November 2027 | UAE and Gulf | Same date every year |
| 2028 | Thursday 30 November 2028 | UAE and Gulf | Same date every year |
Where this information comes from
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