The Sheikh Zayed Festival 2021, celebrating the UAE’s Golden Jubilee, promises an array of special shows and new attractions. Running from November 18 to April 1, the festival will feature over 22,500 performers and exhibitors, making it a must-visit event in Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar.
Key Takeaways
- Event Duration: November 18 to April 1
- Performers and Exhibitors: Over 22,500
- New Attractions: Drones show, glow garden, ice-skating rink, and more
- Special Zones: Year of the 50th Zone, miracle garden, funfair city, house of fear
- Cultural Events: Over 4,500 cultural events and 650 performances
- Workshops: More than 130 workshops for children
- Sports Activities: Karting, archery, flight simulations, bungee jumping, zip lines, and more
Festival Overview
Named after the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Sheikh Zayed Festival has become a significant international event. Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President and Chairman of the Camel Racing Federation, highlighted the festival’s role in showcasing the UAE as a melting pot of civilizations.
Special Attractions
This year’s festival will feature several new attractions, including:
- Drones Show: A spectacular display of drones lighting up the sky.
- Glow Garden: A mesmerizing garden illuminated with lights.
- Ice-Skating Rink: A new addition for skating enthusiasts.
- Miracle Garden: Featuring famous buildings and illusion structures.
- Funfair City: An amusement park for all ages.
- House of Fear: A scary escape room experience.
- Crazy Car: Go-karting for thrill-seekers.
- Extreme Weekend: Off-road motorcycle racing.
- Expo 2020 Dubai Kiosk: A special kiosk at the Expo 2020 Dubai.
Cultural and Entertainment Events
The festival will host over 4,500 cultural events and 650 performances, including:
- Concerts: Various musical performances.
- Fireworks: Weekly fireworks displays.
- Fountain Show: The ever-popular fountain show.
- Culinary Experience: A variety of food options.
- Theater and Cultural Pavilions: Showcasing different cultures.
- Parades: Colorful and vibrant parades.
- Military Heritage Music Shows: Traditional music performances.
- Arabian Horse Show: A display of Arabian horses.
- Al Wathba Custom Car Show: A showcase of custom cars.
Sports Activities
For the first time, the Al Forsan International Sports Resort will join the festival, offering a variety of sports-related activities for the whole family, including:
- Karting: Go-kart racing.
- Archery: Target practice with bows and arrows.
- Flight Simulations: Experience flying in simulators.
- Bungee Jumping: Thrilling jumps from heights.
- Zip Lines: Exciting zip line rides.
- Remote-Controlled Cars: Racing remote-controlled cars.
- Horse Arena: Equestrian activities.
Health and Safety Measures
All events will be conducted with strict preventive health measures to ensure the safety of all attendees. The festival will be open from 4 PM to 12 AM, and until 1 AM on Thursdays, Fridays, and national holidays.