The 40th National Day official logo has been inspired from the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, which expresses "the spirit of the Union”. The logo was designed by a team of Emirati graphic designers & communications specialists from the Office Brand of Abu Dhabi. The idea of the logo was found after several sessions, it was a compilation of ideas, drawings and photographs that reflect the initial shape of the logo, which reflects ​​power and modernity, a goal the team wanted to achieve. The 2nd of December, 1971 marks an important stage in the history of the UAE, since the birth of the Union happened in this day and the flag was raised to announce the Union and the establishment of the United Arab Emirates. In order to immortalize the image of the rulers and keep the memory of the Union, the team designed the logo by capturing a moment in history in an image of loyalty and appreciation of the rulers of the seven emirates.

There were several supporting graphical elements that supports the official logo for the 40th National Day to be used in various applications is as follows:

• “The UAE Skyline Graphic” to represent the history and culture of the UAE.
• “The UAE National Anthem Graphic” national anthem, which is part of national identity.
• “Patterns” that inspired by traditional weaved textiles, wood and stone carvings found in the architecture of the Emirates.