Sunset over Burj Al Arab from the Umm Suqeim shoreline. Photo: Sathyapriyan22, Wikimedia Commons, “Burj al arab sunset view walk”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized).
Some of Dubai’s best free sights appear only for a few weeks a year, and one of them has just returned to the sand. The UAE Flag Garden is back at Umm Suqeim Beach, with thousands of national flags planted in the shadow of Burj Al Arab. It opens in time for UAE Flag Day on Tuesday, 3 November, and stays until January.
This guide explains what the display is, how to reach it, when to go for the best photographs and how the rest of Dubai marks Flag Day. In addition, it covers the flag etiquette that every visitor should know before joining in.
What Is the UAE Flag Garden?
The UAE Flag Garden is a large public installation of national flags on Jumeirah Beach. Gulf News reported on 2 November that this is its 13th year. The flags stand on a permanent site at Umm Suqeim 2, and the design changes every season.
In recent editions, the flags have formed portraits of the UAE’s Founding Fathers, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The faces are clearest from above. At ground level, however, you can walk among the flags, and viewing points overlook the whole installation.
The scale is striking, too. According to Gulf News, the 2024 edition used 11,600 flags and measured 75 metres by 104 metres. Last year’s display used more than 11,000 flags and stayed open until 10 January. However, this year’s design had not been revealed at the time of writing.
UAE Flag Garden 2026: Dates, Location and Entry
Here are the essentials, as reported by Gulf News:
- When: from Tuesday, 3 November (Flag Day) until January
- Where: Umm Suqeim Beach, next to Burj Al Arab
- Price: free, with no tickets or bookings needed
- Hashtag: visitors have been encouraged to share photos with #UAEFlagGarden
Opening hours and full details for this year’s edition are expected soon, so check the latest reports before a late-evening visit. The listings site What’s On describes the location as Kite Beach, which sits on the same stretch of sand just north of the hotel.
How to Get There and Where to Park
First, note that the display sits on Jumeirah Beach Road, in a residential beach district rather than a mall or a Metro hub. As a result, no Metro station is within easy walking distance. For most visitors, therefore, a taxi or ride-hailing car is the simplest option. The Mall of the Emirates Metro station on the Red Line is a sensible place to switch to a short taxi ride towards the coast.
If you drive, use the public beach car parks along Jumeirah Beach Road and pay through the usual parking apps or machines. Gulf News advises allowing extra time for parking and the walk along the beach on weekend evenings. By contrast, weekdays are calmer, and you have until January, so there is no need to rush on opening weekend.
Best Photo Spots and Timing
The classic shot lines up the flags with Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab behind them. For example, stand on the beach side of the installation and shoot back towards the hotel’s sail. Also, a wide-angle lens, or the 0.5x setting on most phones, helps fit both into one frame.
Light matters as much as angle. Late afternoon gives warm colour and long shadows across the flags. Sunset, meanwhile, silhouettes Burj Al Arab against an orange sky. Mornings, on the other hand, are cooler and quieter, which suits families with young children.
- Arrive about 45 minutes before sunset for the best light
- Keep to marked paths and viewing points rather than climbing between flags
- Bring water and a hat, because November afternoons are still warm
- Avoid flying a drone unless you hold the correct permit, as Dubai restricts recreational drone use
How Dubai Marks Flag Day on 3 November
Flag Day commemorates the accession of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as UAE President in 2004. It was first celebrated in 2013, and this year marks its 14th edition, according to Khaleej Times. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has called on citizens, residents, schools and homes to raise the flag on the day.
On the day itself, flag-raising ceremonies are traditionally held at 11am. Flag Day is not a public holiday, as Arabian Business explained on 1 November, so offices and schools stay open. Flag Day also opens National Month, which runs until Eid Al Etihad on 2 December.
For an evening plan, Gulf News reports that Global Village will stage a drone show with 1,000 illuminated drones at 8pm on 3 November. In addition, visitors will receive UAE flags on arrival. Our Global Village Season 31 guide covers tickets, hours and getting there.
Flag Etiquette Visitors Should Know
The UAE flag is treated with real respect, and the rules are worth knowing before you hang one on a balcony or a car. Khaleej Times summarised the official guidelines on 2 November:
- Replace any flag that is faded, torn or discoloured, even if the damage looks minor
- When the flag hangs horizontally, the red section should be on the left of a person facing it
- When it hangs vertically, the red section should point upwards
- Never let the flag touch the ground
- Never place it lower than other national flags flown alongside it
- Recycle a worn flag by separating its parts rather than burning it
Khaleej Times also notes that federal law sets severe penalties for publicly damaging or insulting the flag. In practice, visitors simply need to treat the display and any flags they carry with care.
Make a Day of It in Umm Suqeim
The UAE Flag Garden pairs well with a relaxed beach day. For instance, Kite Beach has cafés, a running track and calm water for a swim. Our guide to kitesurfing in Dubai explains where riders launch along this coast.
Similarly, families can spend a morning at the nearby water park, covered in our Wild Wadi reopening guide. If the flags spark an interest in the city’s past, follow the Sheikh Rashid Heritage Trail through old Dubai.
Conclusion
The UAE Flag Garden is one of the simplest pleasures of a Dubai winter. It is free, it sits on one of the city’s loveliest beaches, and it frames Burj Al Arab in a way you will not see the rest of the year. In short, go at sunset, take your time and treat the flags with respect. Then round off Flag Day with the drones at Global Village.
FAQ
When does the UAE Flag Garden open in 2026?
It returns in time for UAE Flag Day on Tuesday, 3 November, and runs until January, according to Gulf News.
Where is the UAE Flag Garden?
It is on Umm Suqeim Beach, next to Burj Al Arab, on a permanent site at Jumeirah Beach in Umm Suqeim 2.
Do I need a ticket?
No. Entry is free, and no tickets or bookings are needed.
Is UAE Flag Day a public holiday?
No. Schools and offices stay open, although many hold flag-raising ceremonies, traditionally at 11am.
What else is happening in Dubai on Flag Day?
Global Village plans a 1,000-drone show at 8pm on 3 November, and landmarks across the city will display the national colours.
Key Takeaways
- The UAE Flag Garden is back at Umm Suqeim Beach for its 13th year
- It opens for Flag Day on 3 November and stays until January
- Entry is free, with no booking required
- Sunset gives the best photographs, with Burj Al Arab behind the flags
- Respect the flag rules: never let a flag touch the ground and replace faded flags
