ABU DHABI: Under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court, the Higher Organising Committee of the Sheikh Zayed Festival has finalised preparations for the 2024-2025 festival season, which is set to commence on 1st November and continue until 28th February 2025.
Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President, and Chairman of the Festival’s Higher Organising Committee, today inspected the festival site and its diverse sections and pavilions, ahead of the festival’s grand opening this Friday, ensuring the festival’s readiness to welcome visitors.
During his inspection, Sheikh Sultan met with several officials and organisers to review their plans for delivering outstanding events and activities that highlight the festival’s status as a global event where people from different cultures come together.
Sheikh Sultan
was accompanied by Humaid bin Saeed Al Neyadi, Director of the Office of the Chairman of the Presidential Court and Deputy Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee, alongside committee members and several officials.
He expressed his deepest gratitude to President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his gracious patronage of the festival and to His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his unwavering support.
During his visit, Sheikh Sultan expressed satisfaction with the preparations, which have been finalised, making the festival ready to welcome visitors to experience a unique edition of the global event.
Sheikh Sultan emphasised that the festival, named after the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, benefits from the support of the UAE’s wise leadership, reinforcing its significance in promoting national identity and boosting the UAE’s status as a leading global cultural destination.
Al Neyadi noted that the Sheikh Zayed Festival serves as an i
deal platform for cultural exchange and collaboration among people of various nationalities.
Abdullah Mubarak Al Muhairi, a member of the Festival’s Higher Organising Committee, stated that the Sheikh Zayed Festival aims to build bridges of communication among communities through cultural and artistic events, noting that it also promotes values of tolerance and intercultural dialogue, inspiring generations to celebrate their heritage and learn about other cultures.
Al Muhairi added that the festival offers a rich array of major events and grand performances, blending heritage, culture, and entertainment. Highlights include the Union Parade, celebrations for Union Day, New Year’s festivities, and many other grand events. The festival will feature significant updates in design, events, and activities, providing visitors with exceptional experiences.
He commended the active participation of various government entities in offering distinctive events and activities to the public. Participating entities include
the National Library and Archives, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Agricultural Excellence Award, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Abu Dhabi Councils, Presidential Camel Racing, Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, and the Arabian Saluki Centre, among others.
Al Muhairi noted that the Heritage Village at the festival reflects traditional Emirati life and its diverse environments, offering visitors an immersive experience through a programme packed with handicrafts, distinctive handmade products, and various other activities in the traditional market.
This year, the festival will introduce seven weekly festivals for the first time, taking place within the festival grounds and sections. These will be a variety of cultural, civilisational, and entertainment festivals aimed at attracting a broad audience throughout the festival days.
The festivals wi
ll include the National Day Celebrations Festival, the Children’s and Cartoon Characters Festival, the New Year’s Celebrations Festival featuring lights, lasers, and fireworks, the Arts, Flowers, and Plants Festival, the East Asia Festival, the Food and Desserts Festival, and the Ramadan Festival.
Visitors will enjoy renewed experiences through activities such as the Rare Species Reserve, now enhanced to offer visitors closer engagement with rare animals and birds, live performances, “Chinese Street”, the Flying Restaurant, along with Guinness World Record-breaking firework displays, drone shows, and laser light performances lighting up the skies over Al Wathba. These varied cultural and entertainment activities ensure visitors of all ages a unique experience combining culture and entertainment.
The new edition of the festival will feature more than 6,000 global cultural events, over 1,000 large-scale shows and activities, and participation from more than 30,000 exhibitors, aiming to attract millions of vis
itors. The festival will see contributions from over 27 countries, including new international participants with pavilions and special sections, fostering global cultural exchange and understanding.
Source: Emirates News Agency