Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, 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 Sheikh Zayed Festival 2024-2025 will take place in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi from 1 November 2024 until 28 February 2025, celebrating the UAE’s heritage through numerous entertainment and cultural events.
Under the supervision of Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President, and Chairman of the Festival’s Higher Organising Committee, this year's edition of the festival will be held under the theme Hayakum (Arabic for Welcome), introducing a new vision and identity that align with its prestigious status.
The festival’s Higher Organising Committee has unveiled the full lineup of events and activities for this year's edition. A cornerstone of the UAE's cultural landscape, the festival showcases the nation's rich heritage, values, and global humanitarian endeavours.
The committee announced that this year's edition will witness fundamental changes in all aspects, including designs, events and new activities, with weekly festivals being held for the first time, which will provide the UAE citizens, residents and tourists from around the world with the opportunity to be part of a globally-inspired cultural and entertainment atmosphere.
The committee explained that the new edition of the festival will witness the organisation of more than 6,000 international cultural events, more than a thousand shows and major public events, in addition to more than 30,000 exhibitors and participants to attract millions of visitors.
The festival will witness the participation of more than 27 countries, including countries that will participate for the first time in special pavilions and sections in the festival, which will contribute to enhancing communication and learning about the world's civilisations and cultures.
The Sheikh Zayed Festival 2024-2025 will host numerous public events and major shows, notably the Union Parade, which serves as a reaffirmation of the strength and unity of the people of the UAE in preserving the heritage and core national values established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
The celebration of the UAE Union Day at the Sheikh Zayed Festival will feature programmes, activities, and events with popular and official participation from government entities, celebrating the anniversary of the Union's founding.
A special festival will be held for 14 days to commemorate the UAE Union Day, featuring a variety of activities, including folk art shows, parades, raffles, prizes, and stage performances, along with other entertainment offerings such as fireworks, drone shows, laser displays and musical concerts.
During its new edition, the Sheikh Zayed Festival will organise various events and activities that embody the UAE's civilisation and authentic heritage, introducing the public to the life, customs, and traditions of the ancestors across all four environments: mountainous, agricultural, marine and desert. This aims to enhance heritage preservation, strengthen ties to roots, and revive the memories of new generations by connecting them with their rich past.
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. The Emirati Tent Restaurant (Al Kheimah) will offer visitors a journey into the past, steeped in the spirit of authentic heritage.
International pavilion activities and shows at the festival will provide a unique opportunity for visitors from around the world to learn about the cultures, customs, and distinctive elements of each country.
The Sheikh Zayed Festival will celebrate numerous global occasions, particularly the New Year's celebrations. This year, for the first time, a special festival will be organised, spanning two weeks and featuring various events, including major fireworks displays that will set new records in the Guinness World Records.
Drone and laser shows will light up the skies over the Al Wathba area, alongside activities on the fountain and children’s stages, among many other surprises awaiting the audience.
Fireworks will also be launched weekly in the festival's sky to ignite the enthusiasm of the audience during the holiday, and for the first time, visitors will enjoy the Musical Fountain activities, which will include a variety of water games and musical performances synchronised with the water movement. This will create joyful and delightful experiences for visitors alongside family and friends in a globally inspired entertainment atmosphere.
During the Sheikh Zayed Festival, numerous accompanying events are held annually, including the His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan's Racing Festival, along with various heritage competitions such as the Sheikh Zayed Festival Dhow Sailing Race, the Sheikh Zayed Falconry Competition, the Sheikh Zayed Camel Racing Grand Prize, and the Traditional Cooking Competition, among many others.
The festival also features numerous competitions and distinctive prizes, most notably the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Award for Agricultural Excellence, which aims to stimulate agricultural innovation, celebrate outstanding farmers and livestock breeders in the country, and support food security.
Festival visitors will also have a unique opportunity to win valuable prizes through the Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Racing Festivals by participating in the raffles held during the festival, along with many competitions that will take place in the festival grounds to offer prizes to winners.
This year, the festival provides visitors with a significant opportunity to discover the finest and rarest types of honey and purchase from hundreds of participating brands at the Honey Exhibition, which aims to support the honey production sector in the UAE. The festival will host a date festival that highlights and showcases the best types of local dates to visitors.
For the first time, the festival will feature the Skills Programme, organised by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Media Network. This programme will present various events and competitions to showcase students' skills and their contributions to society, attracting talented citizens in technical and professional fields to compete according to international standards while representing the UAE in global skills competitions.
The Al Wathba Custom Show events and competitions at the festival will offer a opportunity to learn about the best methods for rebuilding classic cars, off-road vehicles, and enhancing their engines. Visitors can also enjoy displays of modified vehicles and specialist workshops, along with competitions with valuable prizes.
The Sheikh Zayed Festival 2024-2025 in its new edition this year will undergo significant changes in both form and content, refreshing the activities held annually and introducing new events and activities for the first time. This initiative stems from a new vision aimed at enhancing the festival's message and exposing visitors to the cultures and civilisations of the world in an atmosphere of culture, enjoyment, and entertainment.
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 will include the Union 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 & Desserts Festival, and the Ramadan Festival.
During this year’s edition, the Sheikh Zayed Festival presents special artistic evenings as part of the Al Wathba Nights concerts, featuring a selection of top Arab singers, artists, and stars. The performances will range from traditional and national to folkloric and modern songs, catering to diverse tastes and cultures.
Concerts will be held weekly, coinciding with special events and activities during the weekends and fireworks displays, providing the UAE citizens, residents, and tourists from around the world with a culturally rich and entertaining experience alongside family and friends.
Al Wathba Nights will offer festival visitors the opportunity to meet many of their favourite stars, enjoying culture, art, and authentic music outdoors, amidst numerous cultural, civilisational, and entertainment activities.
This season, the festival’s Theme Park offers a safe environment, featuring a variety of new rides enhanced by virtual reality technology suitable for all age groups. There will also be the Haunted House, along with many other adventures and games.
Children will benefit significantly from new activities planned for this year, as the festival aims to empower this age group through the renewed children's area and theatre. Thousands of live events, competitions, and activities will be organised to inspire young ones and develop their skills.
The audience can look forward to thousands of events including the Al Wathba Floating Market (Siam Paradise), which will include diverse Asian activities and traditional crafts, such as umbrella painting, Thai flower making, and various restaurants.
Another highlight will be the Helicopter experience, offering visitors a 5D adventure, allowing them to experience virtual reality and the latest devices and sound effects.
The audience will enjoy refreshing experiences through activities in the Chinese street and the flying restaurant.
The festival allows visitors to experience a opportunity in the region through the renewed Rare Species Reserve, providing a greater chance to learn about some rare animals and birds while watching various live shows.
This year’s edition of the festival includes many events held under the slogan Closer, which provides a large and diverse group of popular and international restaurants, and mobile food carts, providing visitors with thousands of daily dishes of various foods.
