Commemoration Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Current UAE government sources identify November 30 as Commemoration Day and state that President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared the observance in 2015 in remembrance of Salem Suhail Khamis, who died in service on November 30, 1971. Employee/public-holiday scheduling is treated separately.
About Commemoration Day
UAE Commemoration Day is observed annually on November 30 to remember people who died in service to the United Arab Emirates in military, civil, and humanitarian fields.
Current UAE government pages list November 30 as the official commemoration date and trace the national observance to a 2015 declaration by the late President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Why Commemoration Day matters
The day is a national remembrance observance centered on commemoration of those who died in service and support for their families.
The remembrance date should not be automatically equated with a particular employee leave date; public-holiday scheduling is governed separately and can change through Cabinet decisions.
History of Commemoration Day
UAE government material states that Commemoration Day was declared in 2015 by President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The date November 30 is linked in current government material to Salem Suhail Khamis, described as the first Emirati soldier to die in the line of duty in 1971.
Government records document the first Commemoration Day ceremonies on November 30, 2015.
The observance has continued annually on November 30, with official moments of silence, flag ceremonies, and remembrance programs.
Current UAE employment and federal-human-resources rules treat public holidays through separate legal/Cabinet mechanisms, so this guide does not infer an employee leave entitlement solely from the commemoration date.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
UAE government sources state that President Sheikh Khalifa declared the annual commemoration in 2015.
President of the United Arab Emirates
Current government and contemporaneous 2015 government sources attribute the declaration to the President.
First documented observance
Dubai Customs contemporaneously described its 2015 ceremony as the UAE’s first Commemoration Day, and WAM published official leadership statements for that first observance.
UAE government institutions
Federal and emirate government institutions continue official remembrance programs and publish current Commemoration Day materials.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe Commemoration Day
Observe official moments of remembrance or educational programs respectfully if you choose to participate.
Learn about the history of the observance through UAE government sources and memorial institutions.
Support remembrance in a way that respects bereaved families and avoids graphic, sensational, or propagandistic treatment of deaths in service.
If work or school scheduling matters, check the current official public-holiday notice rather than assuming November 30 itself is automatically a day off.
Keep discussion focused on documented history and remembrance rather than using the observance to pressure political or military views.
Commemoration Day Facts
UAE Commemoration Day is observed annually on November 30.
Current UAE government material says President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan declared the observance in 2015.
The date is linked to Salem Suhail Khamis, who died in service on November 30, 1971.
The first national Commemoration Day ceremonies were held in 2015.
The commemoration date and public-holiday/employee-leave scheduling are distinct questions.
Commemoration Day Messages
On UAE Commemoration Day, may remembrance remain respectful, factual, and centered on those who died in service and the families who remember them.
May Commemoration Day be marked with dignity, care for bereaved families, and attention to the documented history of the observance.
On Commemoration Day, honor memory without sensationalism and use current official guidance for any separate holiday-scheduling questions.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Remembrance Civic Context Care.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Dubai Customs — first Commemoration Day ceremony, 2015 (opens in a new tab)
Government Contemporaneous
Emirates News Agency — first Commemoration Day statement, 2015 (opens in a new tab)
National News Agency Government
UAE Ministry of Education — Commemoration Day (opens in a new tab)
National Government Current
UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention — Commemoration Day 2026 (opens in a new tab)
National Government Current
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Commemoration Day?
30 November each year The documented recurrence rule is: 30 November.
Does Commemoration Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Commemoration Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Arab Emirates. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Commemoration Day?
The reviewed sources identify President of the United Arab Emirates as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as UAE government institutions.
Is Commemoration Day international or country-specific?
This observance is specific to United Arab Emirates. Its fuller verified scope is: United Arab Emirates.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-23.
When is UAE Commemoration Day?
It is observed annually on November 30.
When was UAE Commemoration Day established?
Current UAE government sources state that it was declared in 2015 by President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Why is November 30 used?
UAE government material links the date to Salem Suhail Khamis, who died in the line of duty on November 30, 1971.
Was 2015 the first Commemoration Day?
Yes. UAE government records describe the November 30, 2015 ceremonies as the first Commemoration Day.
Is November 30 always an employee public-holiday leave day?
Do not assume that from the commemoration date alone. UAE public-holiday and employee-leave scheduling is governed separately, so current official notices should be checked for the relevant year.
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