December 2 of each year marks the UAE’s National Day holiday. Also known as Eid Al Etihad, the public holiday usually spans 2 days, December 2 and 3. In 2025, it will be the UAE’s 54th National Day, an opportunity for restaurants in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and across the Emirates to launch special offerings and boost their sales.
With the holiday falling on a Tuesday and Wednesday this year, many diners may turn it into a long weekend, making it the perfect time to plan your UAE National Day restaurant promotions.
In this article, we’ll show you how to prepare your restaurant for UAE National Day and how to make the most of it.
6 UAE National Day Ideas for Your Restaurant
With nearly two months to go, now’s the perfect time to start planning your UAE National Day restaurant promotions.
Here are six creative ideas to help you boost reservations, delight guests, and celebrate Eid Al Etihad in style.
A Taste of the Emirates Menu
One of the fastest ways to increase restaurant sales is by introducing a seasonal menu, and UAE National Day is the perfect time to infuse Emirati flavors into your cuisine.
Here are a few ideas:
Traditional corner: Feature classic, comforting dishes like Al Harees (slow-cooked wheat and meat, served with ghee) and the popular dessert Luqaimat (crispy, deep-fried dumplings drizzled with date syrup).
Modern twist: Depending on your restaurant type and cuisine, consider incorporating Emirati flavors into your main cuisine. For example, you can add a saffron-infused risotto, a spiced lamb shank using local loomi (dried lime), or a dessert like a pistachio and cardamom tres leches.
Specialty beverages: Offer unique mocktails featuring local ingredients like rosewater, dates, or camel milk. You can revive the pistachio trend into some of your beverages or desserts.
Why it works: Seasonal menus drive higher average checks and make your concept more shareable online.
Add UAE flags and colors to your dining room
Bring the spirit of the Emirates to life with red, green, white, and black accents to create an atmosphere of national pride that’s both festive and elegant.
Transform your interior: Incorporate the UAE’s flag colors through elements, such as red table runners or cloths, lush green palm arrangements, and elegant white and black accents in your lighting and signage.
Cultural centerpiece: Create a dedicated "Heritage Corner" with art, featuring gold-accented Arabic calligraphy of Eid Al Etihad and traditional lanterns and incense for a warm, welcoming feel.
Offer special cups or coasters
Limited-edition branded items are excellent ways to increase your average spend per customer, create memorable keepsakes and drive repeat visits.
Themed merchandise: Offer a limited-edition set of reusable, high-quality Arabic coffee cups (finjans), mugs, or coasters featuring the UAE flag motif or a silhouette of a national landmark.
Giveaway incentive: Offer a branded item (like a commemorative keychain or mug) as a complimentary gift for any table that spends over a certain amount.
Further reading: 21 Restaurant Marketing Ideas to Entice Guests in 2025
Live entertainment, showing Emirati tradition
Authentic live entertainment can turn a simple meal into an immersive cultural experience, greatly enhancing the dining atmosphere.
Traditional music: Hire a solo Oud player to provide sophisticated, non-overpowering background music during dining hours.
High-impact performance: Arrange a short, high-impact performance of traditional Al-Ayyala (stick dance) in a central location during peak evening times.
Create a charity or community-focused event
Connecting your business to the UAE's spirit of generosity and community is a powerful way to resonate with local values.
Dedicated giving dish: Partner with a recognized local charity and dedicate a specific, high-margin item on your menu as the "Giving Dish."
Donation: Commit to donating a fixed percentage or a set amount from every sale of a certain dish to the chosen cause throughout the celebration period.
Offer a "54 Flavors of the UAE" tasting experience
Since the upcoming celebration marks the UAE's 54th anniversary, a tasting menu that plays on this number can be a clever way to increase restaurant reservations and foot traffic.
If you manage a high-end concept, you can market your tasting menu as a limited-seating event or a "Chef's Table" experience with pre-booking only to enhance exclusivity and perceived value.
Thematic tasting menu: Create an exclusive multi-course tasting menu that symbolically incorporates 54 distinct local flavors or ingredients across all its courses.
Offer a special 54% off on a certain dish: Use the 54th anniversary theme in a different way by offering a limited-time 54% off on a certain dish, beverage, or set menu.
How to Prepare Your Restaurant for UAE National Day
Start prepping and marketing early
The key to any successful restaurant marketing campaign is to start early. This means collaborating with your in-house team, including servers and kitchen staff, as well as your marketing team.
Early prep also involves deciding which of the above ideas you’ll implement. You may choose to combine several or all of them.
For example, you may choose to run a donation, a giveaway, and create special coasters or swag.
Decorate your venue
Decide how you’ll decorate your venue and what type of decorations you’ll use.
Will it just be a centerpiece? Or will you add small flags to each table?
Duration
Think beyond just one day. With UAE National Day 2025 falling midweek, many guests may extend the break into a long weekend. Consider running your campaign for five to seven days to maximize exposure and justify decor and event costs.
Create buzz with teasers
Start teasing about your plan on social media, your restaurant website, and/or mobile app.
Include your booking link or widget on every social post and on booking channels like Zomator, Tripadvisor, and others.
If you operate inside a hotel, you can offer a lucky draw for staycations.
For example, create a ‘staycation dining’ draw to encourage guest participation. Leave a note at the front desk or at the entrance of your restaurant.
Further reading: 10 Money-Making Revenue Management Strategies for Restaurants in 2025
Invite guests with email, SMS, or WhatsApp messaging
Prepare your personalized messaging campaigns for guests. If you’re using WhatsApp for restaurants, you can include links to your menu and geo-location and track opening rates and clicks.
Book entertainment (if applicable)
If you plan to feature live acts, such as an Oud player or traditional Al-Ayyala performance, secure bookings early. Advance planning helps you get better rates and allows time for promotion on your social channels.
Prepare your staff
Brief both FOH and BOH teams on your National Day plans and promotions, menus, events and special offers.
If you manage multiple restaurant locations or even a standalone restaurant, adjust schedules to handle higher foot traffic and ensure your team is trained to deliver the best guest experience.
Review your booking platforms
If you don’t currently use a restaurant reservation management system, consider trying out a solution like Servme.
Reservation software acts as a seating and table management system, helping you seat large groups faster, manage your restaurant floor plan, and collect online bookings via your website and other platforms.
Further reading: 11 Ways to Use Restaurant Floor Planning Software [Quick Guide]
Create a UAE National Day-themed booking widget
With Servme, you can create a special event and customize your reservation widget to the UAE National Day theme.
You can also enable deposits or prepayments to secure your bookings. These are later deducted from the guest’s bill, helping you reduce no-shows and last-minute cancellations.
Set Your UAE National Day Plans in Motion
So there you have it, your step-by-step guide to planning a successful UAE National Day restaurant campaign.
Early planning, creative promotions, and a focus on cultural immersion are key to making the most of this significant national holiday.
With tools like Servme’s booking and payment suite, you can plan smarter, reduce no-shows, and deliver an experience worthy of the Emirates. Happy planning!
Want to see how Servme can help? Book a free consultation here.
Nada Sobhi
Marketing
