Festivities will begin with Flag Day on 3 November and culminate on Eid Al Etihad on 2 December.

Brand guidelines for this year’s Eid Al Etihad celebrations in the UAE have been unveiled, outlining detailed instructions on how to apply the official visual identity as the nation prepares to mark its 54th Union anniversary on 2 December.

The 54th Eid Al Etihad Team this week brought together representatives from all seven emirates in a working session “designed to align efforts and create a cohesive approach to the upcoming festivities.”

“This year’s celebrations reflect the shared spirit of the Union and the cultural and social bonds that connect everyone who calls the UAE home,” the team said in a statement.

Under the 2025 theme “United,” the guidelines are designed to ensure a consistent national narrative across government, business and community initiatives.

The Eid Al Etihad 54 identity draws inspiration from the early street signs that appeared during the UAE’s formation under the leadership of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

“In an effort to honour Sheikh Zayed’s vision, commitment and involvement in the UAE’s development, the logo captures the essence of early street signs, in which he played a role in the decision-making process,” the guidelines state.

Festivities will begin with Flag Day on 3 November and culminate on Eid Al Etihad on 2 December, with official resources and creative assets available at EidAlEtihad.ae.

As part of the celebrations, a comprehensive set of brand guidelines has been published on the official Eid Al Etihad website to ensure all communications, visuals and public displays reflect the spirit of unity and the shared pride of the Union.

We summarise some of key design considerations below.

The official design rulebook: Do’s and don’ts every brand should follow

1. Honour the brand story

The identity celebrates the UAE’s founding spirit and Sheikh Zayed’s vision of unity. It is built to symbolise connection, inclusivity and a shared national vision — “a union of people, cultures, and aspirations” that move together in harmony.

2. Use the correct logo versions

There are three official logo variations:

• Primary Version (No Frame) – standard usage on neutral or light backgrounds.

• Negative Version – designed for darker backgrounds.

• Framed Version – used with or without background colour to enhance contrast.

Each version captures the character of early Emirati street signs and must not be altered.

3. Apply colours according to the approved palettes

The visual identity is based on three palettes:

• The Flag Palette – drawn from the UAE flag and how its colours respond to light.

• The Heritage Palette – neutral tones inspired by Emirati culture and heritage.

• The Seven Emirates Palette – seven symbolic hues representing each emirate through values such as Legacy, Innovation, Wisdom, Resilience, Simplicity, Serenity, and Tranquility.
  These colours must not be modified or replaced.

Examples of usage pictured below:

4. Use the approved typefaces

Typography is central to maintaining the visual harmony of the brand:

• Primary English: Vinyl

• Secondary English: Trade Gothic Next

• Primary Arabic: Athelas Arabic Variable

• Secondary Arabic: Source Arabic Sans
  These fonts echo the condensed lettering of early Emirati signage and licence plates. Substituting fonts is not allowed.

5. Follow dynamic logo extension rules

Frames can be extended to include approved content such as the year number, illustrations, or imagery — provided spacing and proportions remain consistent.

6. Observe co-branding lock-ups

When the logo appears alongside partner brands, only official vertical or horizontal lock-ups may be used. They maintain clear spacing, visual balance, and brand integrity.

7. Maintain minimum sizes

To ensure legibility in print and digital:

• Smallest width: 0.9 cm

• Standard widths: 1.3 cm to 2.3 cm (depending on usage)

• Logos smaller than the minimum are prohibited.

8. Respect the seven visual emblems

Each emirate is represented by a cultural or natural symbol — the palm tree, dhow, fort, pearl oysters, Al Ayyala, Al Naashat, and the rising sun. These can be used creatively, but only in alignment with the official brand assets.

9. Use the “54” year mark correctly

The “54” graphic, inspired by licence-plate silhouettes, symbolises movement and unity. The Level 3 illustrative version is the official primary mark for 2025.

10. Ensure brand visualisation consistency

Applications across billboards, street flags, and merchandise must maintain visual balance, spacing, and colour harmony.

11. Don’t misuse the logo

The following practices are strictly prohibited:

• Don’t stretch or distort the logo.

• Don’t rotate the logo.

• Don’t recolour it arbitrarily.

• Don’t place it on low-contrast or cluttered backgrounds.

• Don’t add shadows, gradients, or effects.

• Don’t use unapproved lock-ups.

• Don’t place it inside unapproved shapes or containers.

• Don’t combine it with other logos.

• Don’t resize individual elements separately.

• Don’t substitute typefaces within the logo.

• Don’t use it as a decorative pattern or background element.

• Don’t translate the logo into other languages.

12. Celebrate connection and collaboration

Every visual application should reinforce the spirit of unity, inclusion and progress — the foundation on which the UAE was built.