Commemoration Day
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | 30 November every year |
| Declared | 2015, by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan |
| Ceremony | Flag at half-mast, a minute of silence at 11:30, flag raised at 11:31 |
Source: Ministry of Health and Prevention: Commemoration Day1
Who it honours
The day honours Emiratis who died in military, civil and humanitarian service, in the UAE and abroad. It was declared in remembrance of Salem Suhail Khamis, a soldier who gave his life in the line of duty in 1971.1,2
The ceremony
- The flag is lowered to half-mast in the morning
- A minute of silence at 11:30
- The flag is raised again at 11:31 as the national anthem plays
Source: Ministry of Health and Prevention: Commemoration Day1
Schools and institutions hold moments of silence, flag ceremonies and awareness programmes.3
Sources
- Ministry of Health and Prevention: Commemoration Day
- UAE Civil Defence Authority: Commemoration Day
- Ministry of Education: Commemoration Day
Facts checked 22 October 2026. Prepared by Invest-Emirates.ae for general information.