MOTN Festival Returns to Abu Dhabi with 10 Days of Thrilling Activities for All the Family

The MOTN Festival, the region’s ultimate annual entertainment festival, is returning to Abu Dhabi to bring thrills and excitement to families, foodies and festivalgoers.

Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the event will include unique F&B pop-ups, immersive entertainment and interactive play activities to the Corniche from 9 to 18 December 2022.

The Foodies’ Festival

The MOTN Festival will be packed with enriching international concepts with an array of street food vendors spread across MOTN’s six distinct zones, allowing attendees to enjoy a global food tour with delicious stops at every corner.

From the UK, the halal burger joint Patty&Bun will celebrate its 10th birthday with a special pop-up at MOTN’s Food Hub. Here, it will be serving up high-stacked burgers created with classic, simple and fresh ingredients from artisan producers in the UK.

Bringing a slice of ‘cupcake heaven’ to Abu Dhabi, the UK’s famous cake parlour Peggy Porschen will be in residency at the festival’s Shopping District this year. Expect an Instagrammable experience as the ‘prettiest café in the world’ brings its trailblazing cake creations to the region for the first time.

Australian brand Knafeh Bakery by the Bearded Bakers will be taking its favourite Middle Eastern desserts to the festival’s Inspire Space. The brothers, who take their family recipes from their mother Nabila’s roots in Jerusalem, will showcase their mouth-watering favourites for their first official pop-up in the UAE. The Bearded Bakers will also give visitors a taste of their famously delicious cookies from their first establishment, Bar Biscotti, which pays homage to the flavours they grew up with.

Truffle Burger lands in Abu Dhabi at the festival’s Inspire Space with its classic burgers, which are a huge hit in the UK. From humble beginnings as a street food vendor, the brand’s unchanged signature recipe has propelled them to four permanent restaurants across London.

The Curiosity Seekers’ Den

Expect the unexpected in the Inspire Space, where awe-inspiring experiences aim to heighten the imagination of visitors.  

The popular MOTN Funhouse returns in the Inspire Space with larger-than-life entertainment for everyone. This year, festivalgoers can break the fourth wall and become part of an immersive digital art installation by MOTN Funhouse x ANIMA. Designed to interact with visitors through a giant glowing sphere suspended from the ceiling, the installation explores the relationships between itself and its surroundings by using motion tracking technology to recognise the presence of viewers and make them part of the artwork. This arresting sculptural installation was imagined by visionary artist Anderson Tegon, founder of Milan-based studio Pepper’s Ghost, whose most recent creative works include Aura, a digital art experience recognised as one of the top five immersive exhibitions in Europe.

The Inspire Space will also be the happening destination for trendsetters and fashion lovers who can get inspired by London’s premier clothing streetwear store, Dukes Cupboard, which will be heading to the Middle East for the very first time. Visitors can shop for some of the biggest international brands, such as Supreme, Calvin Klein, Nike and Rolex, as well as Chicago Bulls merchandise and a range of vintage apparel. Founded in Soho, London in 2012, Dukes Cupboard has travelled the world with pop-ups in New York, Amsterdam, Paris and Copenhagen, with several temporary installations in Selfridges store as part of its ‘Project Earth’ campaign, which focusses on making fashion more sustainable. 

Live the CoComelon Experience

Kids can enjoy unforgettable educative and fun experiences in the Amusement Park with the huge YouTube phenomenon CoComelon. Families are invited to explore the world of CoComelon, where they will discover themed areas and interactive activities. They can sing along to the CoComelon nursery rhymes while playing musical instruments, rolling around on the ‘Floor of Lava’ and building with colourful sponge blocks. Little ones can also visit the Melon Patch Academy, play inside Old Macdonald’s Farm, or climb around the playground. There is also the chance to meet CoComelon’s famous mascot, JJ, to create great memories for all the family.

Ticket information

Tickets are now on sale through MOTN’s official ticketing partner at www.ticketmaster.ae. General admission tickets offer access to all free zones and attractions (AED 30 online and AED 35 at the door). Visitors can opt for an add-on bundle that grants them full access to the festival with more than 26 additional rides and activities in the Amusement Park and Thrill Zone, including CoComelon (AED 140). The MOTN Funhouse x ANIMA can be purchased as a separate bundle (AED 85).

The safety of all staff and visitors at MOTN is a priority, with the festival being organised under the Go Safe Certification, a unique programme launched by DCT Abu Dhabi to enforce global standards of safety and cleanliness at hotels, attractions, and venues across the emirate. The event will be open from 4pm to midnight during weekdays and from 4pm to 2am on weekends.

Visit www.motn.ae for more information about the festival and follow its social media channels for updates on festival timings, prices and latest news.