The best National Day gifts for kids UAE families can give are ones that bring everyone together: a flag-colour craft to make at home, a board game for the evening, or an outdoor toy for the cooler December weather. UAE National Day, also known as Eid Al Etihad, falls on 2 December, with a two-day public holiday on 2 and 3 December. Below are 14 gift ideas from Toy Souk, from AED 25 to AED 375, plus simple activity ideas for the holiday.
All prices are the price at time of writing and are shown in AED. None of the products below is official National Day merchandise; they are everyday toys that suit the occasion.
What UAE National Day celebrates
National Day marks the union of the emirates on 2 December 1971, the start of the federation that became the United Arab Emirates. The UAE government portal lists National Day as a public holiday on 2 and 3 December. In 2026 those dates fall on a Wednesday and Thursday.
The name Eid Al Etihad means “Celebration of the Union”. For children, it is a good moment to talk about the country they live in, why families decorate their homes and cars in red, green, white and black, and what “union” means in simple words.
Keep explanations short and age-appropriate. Younger children enjoy the colours and the family time; older children may want to learn more about the seven emirates and how the country was founded.
Family activity ideas for the National Day holiday
You don’t need a big plan. These simple ideas work at home or close by:
- Make something in the flag colours. Draw, build or decorate with red, green, white and black, then display it at home.
- Host a family games evening. Choose one game everyone can play, from grandparents to the youngest cousin.
- Get outside. December weather in the UAE is usually much more comfortable than summer, so a park, garden or beach afternoon is a treat.
- Visit or call grandparents. Ask them to share what they remember, and read a family story together.
- Cook a meal together. Let children help set the table or decorate it in flag colours.
Many families also travel or visit relatives over the holiday, so small, portable gifts are handy. With delivery across the UAE, it is worth ordering a little ahead of 2 December.
Flag-colour crafts and building toys
These gifts give children the tools to make their own red, green, white and black creations. The toys themselves are not flag-themed; the fun is in what children make with them.
Zpiiel MakerZ 600 (AED 136)
The Zpiiel MakerZ 600 is an open-ended building set with 600 ball-joint elements in ten colours, including red, green, white and black. Children can build letters, numbers, animals or a bracelet, and the ball joints make every figure moveable. It is made in Denmark and suits ages 5 and up. Building a flag or the number “55” for the 2026 celebration is a fun first project.
Projector Painting Blue Kids Drawing Table (AED 45)
The Projector Painting Kids Drawing Table projects images onto paper so children can trace, colour and paint. It has music and lights, and comes with slide templates, markers and drawing paper. It is listed for preschoolers (ages 3 to 5), and children can colour their drawings in flag colours.
Neon LED Writing Board, 40 x 60 CM (AED 120)
The Neon LED Writing Board has a black acrylic surface that makes writing glow like neon, with steady, flash and fade modes. It comes with fluorescent markers, a remote and a stand, and wipes clean so children can change their message. Write a family greeting for the holiday, then reuse it for birthdays and Eid.
Clip Toys Sun Style Fashion Design Kit, White (AED 25)
The Clip Toys Sun Style Fashion Design Kit lets children create their own fashion designs while building colour coordination skills. It suits ages 5 to 12. A budget-friendly gift that could become a flag-colour outfit design challenge. The AED 25 price is a sale price running to 30 November 2026.
For more creative ideas, browse our arts and crafts collection.
Puzzles and games for family time at home
A holiday at home is the perfect time for games that mix ages. Here are four that work for different group sizes.
Ambassador Merchant Folding Wooden Snakes and Ladders (AED 99)
The Ambassador Merchant Folding Wooden Snakes and Ladders is the classic game for up to four players. The wooden board folds shut with a magnetic closure and opens to 29.5 cm, and it comes with four coloured playing pieces and a dice. Easy for grandparents and children to play together.
Peaceable Kingdom Space Escape (AED 137)
Peaceable Kingdom Space Escape is a cooperative board game for ages 7 and up. Players work together to help a team of Mole Rats gather equipment and reach their escape pod before time runs out. Because everyone wins or loses as a team, it suits a day that is all about togetherness.
PlanToys Mini Balancing Cactus (AED 46)
The PlanToys Mini Balancing Cactus is a wooden balance game in a small portable tin, for one to four players or solo play. Players build a cactus without letting it topple. It suits ages 3 and up and is easy to pack for family visits or a restaurant meal.
SmartGames 5 Little Birds (AED 115)
SmartGames 5 Little Birds is a solo logic and deduction game: players use clues to clip birds to the right spots on a wooden tree. It has 60 challenges for kids and adults aged 5 and up, a good quiet-time pick between busy family gatherings.
Find more ideas in our educational games for kids guide and our guide to puzzles for kids.
Outdoor toys for the cooler weather
After months of indoor play in the summer heat, December is a great time to take toys outside. These four suit gardens, parks and the beach.
M.A&F’s 3 in 1 Rocket Launcher, Jump and Ring Toss Game (AED 79)
The M.A&F’s 3 in 1 game combines a spinning musical jump game, a ring toss and a stomp rocket launcher with foam rockets. It has four speed settings changed by remote, with a speed guide by age from 3 upwards. It works indoors or out, so it is useful all year round.
Foam Airplane Glider, 48cm, Blue (AED 25)
The Foam Airplane Glider is a 48cm hand-launched plane made from lightweight, crash-resistant foam. Children throw it and watch it glide, alone or in a group. It needs 3 x LR44 batteries. An easy, low-cost gift for a park afternoon.
PlanToys Meadow Ring Toss (AED 126.50)
The PlanToys Meadow Ring Toss has six rope rings with coloured beads and three wooden posts of different heights. Place the posts close together for beginners or spread them out for older players. It is made from sustainable rubberwood and suits ages 3 and up, so the whole family can take turns on the lawn.
PlanToys Creative Sand Play (AED 109.25)
PlanToys Creative Sand Play is a set of four differently shaped wooden sand moulds, made from sustainable rubberwood. Children can build any sand construction they imagine and add water play too. It is recommended from 2 years, ideal for a beach day over the holiday.
For more ideas, see our guide to outdoor toys for kids.
Arabic books and learning packs
National Day is a natural time to enjoy Arabic stories together, whether your child is a native speaker or learning the language at school.
My Grandparents, Arabic Picture Book (AED 45)
My Grandparents is an illustrated Arabic-language picture book about Abdullah’s grandad and granny, what they used to do and how they spend their time now. Simple questions in the text encourage conversation, and it teaches basic sentences with everyday vocabulary. It works with the Reading Pen (sold separately). A lovely book to read with grandparents over the holiday.
My First Words, Arabic Educational Pack, 440 Pieces (AED 375)
The My First Words Arabic educational pack includes 5 books, 58 game cards, 242 stickers and a write-on, wipe-off activity booklet. Games include sorting colours and Arabic alphabet jigsaw puzzles, and QR codes link to audio books and 7 songs. A bigger gift for school-age children building their Arabic.
Tips for choosing National Day gifts for kids UAE families will enjoy
- Think about who will play. Games for two to four players get the most use when families gather over the holiday.
- Check the age on the product page. Several picks here start from 3, 5 or 7 years.
- Mix indoor and outdoor. An outdoor toy for the cooler months and a game for the evening cover the whole day.
- Set a budget. The glider and Clip Toys kit (AED 25 each), the projector drawing table (AED 45) and the balancing cactus (AED 46) are all under AED 50. See our affordable toys in Dubai guide for more.
- Order early. National Day sits just before the winter break, a busy time for gifting across the UAE.
Frequently asked questions
When is UAE National Day in 2026?
UAE National Day is on 2 December, and the UAE government lists a two-day public holiday on 2 and 3 December. In 2026 these dates fall on a Wednesday and Thursday; check official announcements for any changes.
Are these official National Day toys?
No. The products in this guide are everyday toys, games and books that suit the occasion, not official merchandise. Children can use the craft and building sets to make their own flag-colour creations.
What is a good National Day gift for a young child?
For ages 2 to 5, simple, hands-on gifts work best, such as the PlanToys Creative Sand Play (AED 109.25) or the Projector Painting Drawing Table (AED 45). Always check the age on the product page before you buy.
Which games can the whole family play together?
Classic games like the folding wooden Snakes and Ladders suit up to four players of mixed ages. For children aged 7 and up, Peaceable Kingdom Space Escape is cooperative, so everyone plays as one team.
Do you have Arabic toys or books for National Day?
Toy Souk stocks Arabic picture books and learning packs, such as My Grandparents (AED 45) and the My First Words educational pack (AED 375). They make thoughtful gifts for reading together over the holiday.
Need more ideas for the holiday? Ask Buddy the Bear, Toy Souk’s AI gift advisor, for picks by age, interests and budget.
