The Mother of the Nation Festival returns to Abu Dhabi this year from March 22 until March 31. Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and the biggest event of its kind in the Capital, the Mother of The Nation Festival attracted more than 197,000 visitors last year, and will continue to pay tribute to the living legacy and progressive vision of 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.
With something for everyone to enjoy, it’s the perfect event to keep everyone entertained over the Spring break, so pop it in your diary now!
Here’s everything you need to know…
Where & When?
The Mother of the Nation Festival takes place from March 22 until March 31 over a kilometre of Abu Dhabi’s Corniche beach, utilising Miral’s new 600-metre beachfront leisure development A’l Bahar, which will be opened to the public for the first time for this year’s Mother of The Nation Festival.
The festival is open from 4pm until midnight Sundays to Thursdays and from 2pm until midnight on Fridays & Saturdays.
What's happening?
From thrilling activities to interactive entertainment, the festival promises an unforgettable experience. Bringing together guests from different cultures and generations in the spirit of progress, the festival will feature different zones, each promoting a distinct concept; The Happiness Zone invites families to wander, wonder, and play in a beautiful natural space, the Progress Zone challenges visitors to imagine a future for all, by doing brave, new things as individuals, and the Mother of the Nation Pavilion, as the true heart of the festival, takes visitors on a journey through time, introducing the inspiring accomplishments of HH Sheikh Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the Nation, and the women of the United Arab Emirates.
The Souq at the festival features stunning views and stylish shopping options, and for Abu Dhabi’s foodies, families can enjoy a variety of dining options from food trucks, kiosks, and restaurants throughout the event at the Beach Dining area.
The festival spotlight, however, falls on the Main Stage, which will be showcasing local and international artists and performers throughout the duration of the event.
Tickets
Tickets cost AED25 per adult and AED15 per child aged from 2 to 12.
Seniors over 60 and children under two-years-old are admitted for free.
This year, DCT Abu Dhabi have reintroduced their online ticketing service to provide a seamless and smooth customer experience for festival-goers, allowing visitors to avoid long queues to enjoy the event.
Tickets are available from Ticketmaster, from the Ticketmaster App, and from the dedicated Call Centre (800 86823). Tickets will also be available from the Box Office onsite once the Festival opens.
Facilities & Amenities
The festival will offer numerous convenient facilities and amenities including toilets, baby changing facilities, prayer rooms, first-aid points, lost & found and information points.
Parking
There is ample parking available close to the Mother of the Nation Festival; the Corniche park close to the Third Place Cafe (marked on Google Maps).
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction that enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The Department manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, the Zayed National Museum and the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The Department of Culture and Tourism supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key role played by the Department is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.
