Sheikh Zayed Festival concludes after four months of events

The Sheikh Zayed Festival has closed after four months of daily activities and events at Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi.

The event was organised under the auspices of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the guidance of H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The festival named after Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in recognition of the fundamental role he played in preserving the traditions and culture of the UAE while leading its people on a comprehensive journey of development, succeeded in attracting huge crowds from worldwide.

Held under the theme "UAE Uniting Civilisations", the festival reflected the authentic values and beliefs of the culture and society based on openness, coexistence, tolerance, and acceptance of the other.

Crowds enjoyed a huge array of fun and entertaining events for the family, giving visitors the unique experience of interacting with replicas of 24 traditional neighbourhoods from around the world, each of which reflected different aspects of other civilisations, with traditional markets, fascinating shows, folk dances and music, and a wonderful glimpse into other societies.

Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Adviser to the UAE President, President of the Camel Racing Federation and Chairman of the festival’s Organising Committee, thanked President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa for sponsoring the festival, and also thanked His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his continued support and H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for his tireless follow-up.

He commended the role of the organising committee and its efforts to make it such a success and deliver the festival’s cultural and humanitarian message to the world. He also praised the role of the strategic partners, participants, volunteers and task forces.

He stressed that this year’s festival had been exceptional, particularly as it coincided with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the UAE on its 50th anniversary, where events showcased the values and concepts on which the UAE was founded, and paid homage to the efforts of the late Sheikh Zayed, who laid the foundations for the UAE and prepared the land and his people for the future to which the UAE aspires over the next 50 years.