Mother of the Nation Festival to be staged at new development on Abu Dhabi Corniche

The new beach development at Abu Dhabi Corniche will officially be unveiled as part of The Mother of the Nation Festival in March.

Built by Miral, the 600-metre A’l Bahar – Arabic for “by the sea” – family district will open to the public and be utilised by the arts and culture festival that runs from March 22 to 31.

Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism, the festival is a celebration of the life of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, widow of UAE Founding Father Sheikh Zayed, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.

The festival will have a daily programme spread across six zones at the festival site. The centrepiece of the event is the Pavilion, which will explore Sheikha Fatima’s achievements, impact on UAE history and her role in inspiring generations of Emriati women.

The Happiness zone is aimed at children, with activities ranging from obstacle courses to arts activities focusing on UAE heritage.

The Souq zone will host shops and stalls selling items ranging from traditional clothing and jewellery to modern art.

Closer to the beach will be a dining area including food lorries, stalls and seating areas where the musical action on the main stage can be enjoyed.

The festival has a strong list of Emirati musical talent, including singer Mohammed Al Shehhi, the fusion group Funk Radius, led by Emirati soul singer Hamdan Al Abri, and oud virtuoso Faisal Al Saari.

Also taking the stage is Ensijam, a 17-piece regional orchestra playing traditional folk songs from the Arab world, and the fusion group Lulu Project, featuring Jordanian guitarist Kamal Musallam, and Emirati band Sokoor Al Magabeel.

“The festival not only honours Her Highness’s vision, care and values that she has instilled into our society, but will also celebrate all mothers here in the UAE and their fortitude, resilience and aspirations in raising our future generations,” said Saif Ghobash, director general at the Department of Culture and Tourism.

“We will once again create a vibrant, welcoming and engaging atmosphere at the festival for the entire family to enjoy. Residents and tourists from all nationalities will find a wealth of entertainment on offer during the third edition of the Mother of the Nation Festival.”