Mother of the Nation Festival opens today

Diverse cultural event kicks off its third edition with a spectacular fireworks display

Vibrant entertainment, food and beverage, retail and arts events on offer

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 22 March 2018:   The Mother of the Nation Festival, organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), opens its doors at 4pm today (Thursday), where guests will be able to enjoy a wide array of performances, entertainment, dining and retail options until midnight for the next 10 days. Held at the Abu Dhabi Corniche, this year’s Festival also marks the public opening of Miral’s new beachfront leisure development, A’l Bahar, which will be open to visitors for the very first time. 

HE Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: "The Mother of the Nation Festival commemorates and honours the inspirational values of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak. We have expanded this year’s festival in both size and scale to allow the community ample opportunity to immerse themselves in these values. We also wanted to cater for the festival’s growing success as it has become renowned for its variety of experiences and fun-filled, family-friendly programme. We look forward to welcoming guests throughout the next ten days and to bringing joy to so many families.” 

HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “Throughout multiple and diverse activity zones, the festival has been created to offer an entertaining and highly interactive atmosphere that welcomes families and individuals from all walks of life. We are thrilled to have officially launched and hope to see visitors enjoying this unique community event that celebrates the best aspects of contemporary culture in Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE.”   

The festival will be spread across more than a kilometre of the Corniche, where its commemorative Main Pavilion and four distinct activation zones will offer something for everyone to enjoy; from musical and entertainment performances to comedy shows, art exhibits, interactive workshops and more. Its wide food and beverage offerings boast flavours that appeal to every taste, while in the Souq zone, visitors will have the chance to purchase unique items not typically found in malls; from artisanal crafts and clothing items to organic beauty and toys, jewellery and leather goods, both from locally-grown talent as well as internationally-acclaimed brands.

In celebration of the Festival’s opening, tonight’s entertainment will feature a stunning display of fireworks that will last for five minutes, lighting up the night sky in a spectacular array of light and colour. The breathtaking display remains one of the festival’s most eagerly anticipated events each year and promises to delight visitors of every age and background. 

The event pays tribute to the ‘Mother of the Nation’, Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, and President of the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood, and her living legacy. This year’s line-up embodies her inspirational values of empowerment, conservation, collaboration and sustainability. As a celebration of tolerance, collaboration, camaraderie, and community spirit, the festival is committed to providing high-quality entertainment through more than 100 workshops, performances, and activities for the entire family to enjoy. 

The Main Stage plays home to the biggest artists on the Mother of the Nation Festival programme. Today’s superstars Danny Aridi, Hayajan and the Dancing Fire are ready to captivate audiences across pop-up stages and the main stage while the Majlis Talks at the Mother of The Nation Pavillion will host speakers including Hanan Al Sammak who will be speaking about The Power of Hope, Inspiration and Positivity in Changing Behaviour and Myriam AlDhaheri, Noura Alhameli and Mariyam AlHammadi who will be speaking about the importance of empowering female archeologists. 

 For the foodies out there, the Beach Dining Zone offers more than 60 dining options ranging from fast food to gluten-free options. This year, the zone presents visitors with an appetising selection of local and international flavours, along with comfortable seating arrangements, creating a relaxing atmosphere for all to enjoy. 

Lastly, in the souq zone, visitors will have the chance to enjoy a unique retail experience that brings together local traditional shops and UAE talent as well as a wide array of well-known international brands, honoring Emirati heritage with a contemporary twist. Out of its 77 retail shops, 45 of them are home-grown brands that can’t be found in shopping malls, giving guests the change to take home something truly special. The Festival gives vendors from all backgrounds the opportunity to showcase their talent, such as that of Le Magasin 1999, a clothing brand founded by an 18-year-old t-shirt designer. 

The festival closes on Saturday 31st March, and is open daily from Sundays to Thursdays from 4pm until midnight, and on weekends from 2pm until midnight. Don’t miss out on the action: Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster or purchased at the festival entrance for AED 25 per adult and AED 15 for children under 12, while children aged 5 and under are admitted for free.