The Sheikh Zayed Festival is one of the UAE’s largest cultural events and celebrates the countries diverse Emirati cultural traditions and rich history, covering arts, crafts, food and customs.
This event is named in honour of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the United Arab Emirates.
This year, the festival’s organising committee has unveiled a new logo with a hawk and Al Maqta Bridge and there will be a special Year of the 50th zone, celebrating the past 50 years of the UAE.
This year you’ll also be able to watch special performances of heritage music played by a military band and impressive firework displays will entertain crowds on important days such as on National Day and New Year’s Eve.
How To Book
You can book your tickets directly through the official Sheikh Zayed Festival website.
When To Go
The Sheikh Zayed Festival will start on Thursday 18th November 2021 and finish on Friday 1st April 2022 and will be open every day 4pm until midnight.
During official holidays and on weekdays the festival will be open until 1am.
Costs Involved
The entry ticket price is AED 5 per person.
There is free entry to children under 3 years old, older people over the age of 65 years old and people of determination.
How To Get There
This festival will take you approximately 30 minutes to arrive from Abu Dhabi’s International Airport and 1 hour and 30 minutes to arrive from Dubai International Airport.
For the exact location on Google Maps, you can view here and there is ample parking around the festival grounds.
There will also be free buses available from Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi Main Bus Station, Al Maqta Bridge and Baniyas Bus Station) to the festival and vice versa.
Tips For Your Visit
This festival is suitable for all ages to attend and is wheelchair and pram friendly.
Best to arrive close to the opening time should you wish to avoid large crowds, as much more people attend throughout the evening.
The walkways are also nice and wide, so social distancing is quite easy to maintain.
What To Expect
Below are our photos from last year’s festival when Tom was a younger baby.
Note that the setup and options at this year’s festival may be different this year, so these photos are a guide only.
Every year there are some impressive structures and decorations at this festival.
You can buy specialist food items at this festival, including local & imported spices.
There are some beautiful flower displays in the centre of this festival.
Emirati culture is on display at this festival, which makes for some great photo opportunities!
Last year, there was a great area for children called Kidz Nation, so Tom enjoyed this part of the festival!
One of our favourite areas to visit as a family last year, was the area with fruit trees and farm animals.
There was also a great herb garden to see in the centre of this area and you could also buy fresh fruit and vegetables from different sellers.
For a full list of events and shows for this year’s festival, you can view here.
What's Unique
According to Abu Dhabi Culture, “Sheikh Zayed Festival is one of the largest cultural festivals in the UAE and was recently selected among the five most important cultural events in the world.”
The Verdict
There is something for everyone of all ages to do and see at this family-friendly festival.
Tom’s favourite part of this festival was where the herb garden, fruit trees and farm animals were.
Overall, we loved exploring all the Emirati art, craft and food at the Sheikh Zayed Festival.
The Emirates Red Crescent shop near the exit of this festival was also great to visit, as we learnt about the traditional Emirati craft known as Talli.
Sounds like fun? Don’t just take our word for it, experience it for yourself.
Be inspired to start or add to your very own bucket lists.
You can also click here for more unique bucket list ideas in the UAE!
Above prices & information correct as of November 2021.
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