The Sheikh Zayed Festival will commence its 2024-2025 season tomorrow, Friday, under the theme ‘Hayakum’, and run until February 28 in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, with follow-up by His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and the supervision of Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President and Chairman of Sheikh Zayed Festival’s Higher Organising Committee.
The festival’s higher organizing committee confirmed that preparations are complete to welcome visitors from around the world with a spectacular array of fireworks, drone displays, and numerous other surprises celebrating the festival’s new edition. Considered one of the UAE’s largest cultural and entertainment events, the Sheikh Zayed Festival will offer 120 days of diverse activities and events.
First day’s opening events
This year’s edition will include significant enhancements designed to entertain visitors through a wide range of activities and performances tailored for all audiences, reaffirming the festival’s role as a leading hub of cultural and civilizational exchange.
On the first day, the public will enjoy an extensive lineup of interactive and unique entertainment, including an opening parade with large-scale displays and leading performers delivering a global show across the festival grounds.
Day one of the Sheikh Zayed Festival will also feature open-air circus shows on the Fountain Stage, gift distributions, traditional military band performances, and numerous heritage and folkloric competitions as well as dynamic sports entertainment activities.
Weekend activities and performance
Visitors can spend their weekend exploring multiple cultures and entertainment with exclusive fireworks and drone shows painting artistic illuminations in the night sky. Moreover, live performances at the Emirates Fountain, laser displays, the Al Wathba Floating Market, a flying restaurant, and the Rare Breed Sanctuary will make for a unique Abu Dhabi experience. Thousands of new activities await for the festival’s upcoming season.
UAE Heritage Pavilions
The UAE Heritage Pavilions will welcome visitors, residents, and tourists from around the world, offering a glimpse into the UAE’s authentic traditions. The pavilion will also highlight the role the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, played in building and establishing a nation.
Multiple pavilions and sections, notably the Heritage Village, will feature a variety of cultural and traditional activities, including local markets, handicrafts, and various live heritage performances to immerse visitors in the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
The international pavilions at the Sheikh Zayed Festival will also host unique performances and events for visitors to experience each participating nation’s culture, customs, and products, presenting a rich, cultural atmosphere through diverse heritage displays.
During their participation, several UAE entities will highlight national identity and community engagement, and enhance social ties among citizens and visitors through a range of events, interactive workshops, and cultural exhibitions that reinforce UAE values, providing opportunities for everyone to explore the UAE’s rich history and authentic traditions.
Amusement City
This season, the Amusement City at the Sheikh Zayed Festival adds new excitement with an extensive range of new virtual reality games suitable for all ages, alongside a thrilling haunted house experience and numerous other games and adventures. Visitors can also participate in competitions, prize draws, and a variety of valuable awards.
New festivals across the Sheikh Zayed Festival’s venues and pavilions will create unique celebratory atmospheres each time attendees visit. These include the Union Day Celebrations Festival, Children and Cartoon Characters Festival, New Year’s Festival, Light and Laser Festival, Arts and Floral Festival, East Asia Festival, Food and Sweets Festival, and the Ramadan ‘Month of Giving’ Festival.
This year’s festival will also offer a broad selection of popular and international restaurants, along with mobile food trucks serving thousands of daily dishes to suit all tastes, providing visitors with a world of culinary experiences for the first time.
The Sheikh Zayed Festival welcomes the public daily from 4pm to midnight during the week and until 1am on weekends and public holidays, offering a chance to spend valuable time with family and friends in an outdoor setting with a wide array of activities, events, and competitions suitable for all ages.
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