Every year in the last week of November, the same thing happens. Cars across the country start turning green, white, red and black, and a day or two later the police remind everyone where the line is. The UAE National Day car decoration rules have barely changed in the last few years, but the details, especially the dates you can drive with stickers and when they have to come off, are set emirate by emirate.
This guide puts all seven emirates in one place. It is based on the rules the Ministry of Interior and local police issued for the 54th Eid Al Etihad in 2025. The 2026 guidelines for the 55th National Day usually land in the last ten days of November, and we will update this page the moment they do.
Quick answer: only the UAE flag and approved Eid Al Etihad stickers are allowed. Nothing can cover your windows or number plates, you cannot change the colour of the car, and the stickers must come off by the deadline your emirate sets.
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What the UAE National Day car decoration rules allow
The federal rules from the Ministry of Interior apply in every emirate. Last year they boiled down to a short list of things you can do:
- Fly or stick the UAE flag on the car
- Use stickers that are officially approved for Eid Al Etihad
- Wear official National Day scarves, and play National Day songs at a reasonable volume where approved
Decoration shops were told to fit only the UAE flag or approved stickers. If a shop offers you something louder, that is your risk, not theirs.
What is banned on the car itself
This is where most fines come from. The 2025 list from the Ministry of Interior, repeated by Dubai Police, banned:
- Stickers or sunshades on the windscreen or side windows
- Covering or decorating the front or rear number plate
- Changing the colour of the car, including full wraps
- Tinting beyond the legal limit or anything that blocks the driver’s view
- Slogans or stickers that have nothing to do with National Day
- Flags of any other country
- Body or engine modifications made without approval
Rules for the people inside the car
The rules cover passengers too, not just the driver. Sitting on the window frame or standing up through the sunroof is banned, and so is party spray, whether it comes from the driver, a passenger or someone on the pavement. Overloading the car is also on the list. Loud noise and music that is not approved for the day can lead to a fine, and parades or unplanned gatherings that block traffic are not allowed.
Emirate-by-emirate guide
The core rules are federal. What changes from one emirate to the next is how strictly they are announced and when stickers must be removed.
| Emirate | What police stressed in 2025 | Removal deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Only the UAE flag and official Union Day stickers. Fines and impoundment for violations. | Announced with the 2026 rules |
| Abu Dhabi | Follows the federal list. No covered plates, windows or colour changes. | Announced with the 2026 rules |
| Sharjah | Drivers warned on X to remove decorations or face fines. | Before 6 December in 2025 |
| Ajman | Federal rules apply. | Announced with the 2026 rules |
| Umm Al Quwain | Federal rules. Ran a 40% fine discount from 1 December last year. | Announced with the 2026 rules |
| Ras Al Khaimah | Federal rules apply. | Announced with the 2026 rules |
| Fujairah | Federal rules apply. | Announced with the 2026 rules |
Fines and impoundment
Neither the Ministry of Interior nor Dubai Police put a single figure on National Day decoration offences last year. Both said cars that break the rules face fines and impoundment. In practice, each offence is treated under the normal traffic law, so a covered number plate or illegal tint is fined exactly as it would be on any other day of the year. Keep this in mind if you plan to leave the stickers on for a week after the holiday.
A practical checklist before you decorate
- Buy stickers from a shop that sells the official Eid Al Etihad designs
- Keep the windscreen, side windows and both number plates completely clear
- Avoid full wraps, even temporary ones, because they count as a colour change
- Note your emirate’s removal date and set a reminder
- Check any older traffic fines first through the official payment channels, since some emirates offer discounts around National Day
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When will the 2026 rules be announced?
Last year, the Ministry of Interior’s guidelines for the 54th Eid Al Etihad came out on 25 November, and local police followed within days. Expect the 2026 version around the same time, ahead of the expected 2 and 3 December holiday. If you are still planning your time off, our guide on how to turn the National Day break into nine days off walks through the dates.
Decorate the car, enjoy the drive, and take the stickers off on time. That last part is the one most people forget.
Pro Tip: When the holiday is over, warm the stickers with a hairdryer for a few seconds before peeling them off. The glue comes away more cleanly and is less likely to damage the paint.
FAQs
Can I put National Day stickers on my car windows?
No. The windscreen and side windows must stay clear. Stickers and sunshades on any window were banned under last year’s rules.
Can I wrap my car in UAE flag colours?
No. A full wrap counts as changing the colour of the car, which is not allowed without approval.
Can I fly another country’s flag on my car?
No. Only the UAE flag is allowed on vehicles during the National Day celebrations.
When do I have to remove the decorations?
Each emirate sets its own deadline. In 2025, Sharjah Police told drivers to remove decorations before 6 December. The 2026 deadlines are expected with the new rules in late November.
Can passengers stand up through the sunroof?
No. Leaning out of windows or standing up through the sunroof is banned, for passengers as well as drivers.
