Eid Al Etihad: UAE rulers witness restored footage, national archives at Zayed National Museum

The UAE celebrated its 54th Eid Al Etihad on Tuesday with an official ceremony at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, presenting a detailed account of the country’s history through live performance, archival material and large-scale visual production. The event was held under the theme United.

President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan attended the ceremony alongside members of the Supreme Council, rulers of the emirates, crown princes, deputy rulers and senior officials. The program features a drone show above the museum and a staged narrative tracing key moments from the UAE’s past.

A restored 1966 Chrysler Newport, identical to the vehicle driven by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan in the 1968 documentary Farewell Arabia, was presented as part of the historical segment. The car, recovered in the United States and modified to match the original specifications, is now part of the museum’s collection.

The ceremony also showcased several artefacts from the Zayed National Museum, including the Abu Dhabi Pearl, Bronze Age swords from Saruq Al Hadid, centuries-old carnelian beads, an early regional Abiel coin and a traditional kamal used for celestial navigation. A reconstruction of the Magan Boat highlighted early maritime trade in the Gulf.

Creative teams staged orchestral performances, folk segments and costumed scenes to illustrate the country’s development and the contribution of different generations. The UAE National Orchestra delivered a new composition created for the ceremony.

The event was broadcast live on the official Eid Al Etihad platforms, offering nationwide access to the proceedings. Organisers described the ceremony as an overview of the UAE’s heritage, its institutional formation and the priorities guiding its next phase of growth.