Sheikh Zayed Festival | Abu Dhabi
Celebration
Named after the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, the Sheikh Zayed Festival enlightens visitors interested in the legacy of the UAE's founding father. It also celebrates the culture and rich heritage of the UAE through handicrafts and traditional performing arts. The UAE Heritage Area is the main attraction of the festival, which hosts exhibitions and popular markets. The Sheikh Zayed Festival also hosts camel races, falconry shows, competitions and fireworks. The World Heritage Area is another highlight, showcasing the architectural heritage, crafts, products and traditional arts of other countries.
With numerous public events and large-scale performances, especially the 'United Parade', the Sheikh Zayed Festival 2024-2025 will celebrate the UAE National Day with exciting shows, activities and pageants.
The Heritage Village, located at the heart of the festival, will host numerous cultural and heritage activities, including traditional markets, handicrafts and various live heritage performances. Additionally, the Al Kheimah Tent Restaurant will offer visitors a journey through time and space, in the authentic spirit of heritage.
Unique drone and laser shows will light up the skies over the Al Wathba area, while a variety of activities will take place at the fountains and the children's stage, among many other surprises.
Fireworks will be set off in the sky every week during the festival, igniting the festive spirit of the audience. Additionally, for the first time, visitors will enjoy the "Musical Fountains" event, which will include a variety of water games and musical performances synchronized with the flow of water. This will create a joyful and enjoyable experience for visitors, their families and friends in an atmosphere of globally inspired entertainment.
Many supporting events are held each year during the Sheikh Zayed Festival, including the His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Horse Racing Festival, as well as various traditional competitions such as the Sheikh Zayed Festival Dhow Race, the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Race, the Sheikh Zayed Camel Racing Grand Prix and traditional cooking competitions.
This year, the Honey Festival offers visitors a great opportunity to discover the finest and rarest honeys and purchase honey from hundreds of participating brands at the ‘Honey Show’, which aims to support the UAE’s honey production industry. In addition, the Honey Festival will also host a Date Festival, which will highlight and showcase the best local date varieties to visitors.
The event will also debut the ‘Skills’ programme, which is being organised by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Media Network. The programme will feature a variety of events and competitions that will showcase students’ skills and their contribution to society, attracting outstanding citizens in technical and professional fields to compete to international standards while representing the UAE in global skills competitions.
For car enthusiasts, the Al Wathba Custom Car Show events and competitions during the festival will offer a unique opportunity to learn about the best ways to rebuild classic cars, off-road vehicles and improve engines.
This year, for the first time, the festival will feature seven weekly festival events that will take place across the festival grounds and sections. These events will be a variety of cultural, civilisational and entertainment festivals designed to attract a wide audience during the festival.
These festivals include: National Day Celebrations, Children and Anime Characters Festival, New Year Celebrations featuring lights, lasers and fireworks, Arts, Flowers and Plants Festival, East Asia Festival, Food and Dessert Festival and Ramadan Festival.
This year's Sheikh Zayed Festival will feature special art evenings as part of the "Al Wathba Nights" concerts, featuring top Arab singers, artists and stars. The repertoire includes traditional and ethnic songs, folk songs and modern songs to suit all tastes and cultures.
The concerts will be held weekly, with special events and fireworks shows on weekends, providing UAE citizens, residents and visitors from all over the world with a rich cultural and entertainment experience to enjoy with family and friends.
Al Wthba Nights will offer festivalgoers the opportunity to meet many of their favorite stars, enjoy a good time immersed in outdoor culture, art and authentic music, while participating in a number of cultural, civilizing and entertainment activities that bring people from all over the world together.
This season, the festival's theme park offers a new atmosphere of fun and excitement in a safe environment, with a variety of new rides and attractions, using virtual reality technology, suitable for all ages. There will also be an extraordinary adventure inside the "Haunted Mansion" for thrill seekers, as well as many other adventures and games.