The first edition of the Mother of the Nation Festival, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, is set to launch on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi from 24th March to 2nd April, 2016.
The festival will highlight the vision and far-reaching contributions of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood, which promotes the importance of family coherence as well as nurturing cultural understanding amongst the UAE society.
The festival will stretch along 1.3 kilometres of Abu Dhabi’s scenic Corniche Beach and include a series of exhibits, performances, and events held across five diverse outdoor activity zones, in addition to The Pavilion, a testament to H.H. Sheikha Fatima’s achievements. These zones are designed to host a wide array of entertaining and educational activities, giving the festival an interactive and community-centred atmosphere for one and all.
The festival will reflect on the hard work the mothers and families of our shared community undertake to preserve the authentic values and traditions of Emirati culture while embracing a multitude of others.
Each festival zone is based on a distinct theme that highlights the vital role our mothers play in nurturing families as the building blocks of our nation. A mother’s care for the health of her family is translated into exciting events in the Active Zone, while light is shed on the community’s responsibility towards the environment in the Conservation Zone. The Art Zone represents an open space for expression and creativity, while the Souq Zone combines Emirati heritage with modernity through an urban set of local and international shops. Finally, the Beach Dining Zone offers an infusion of various creative cuisines to suit all tastes.
H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, said: “This inaugural edition of the Mother of the Nation Festival recognises the advocacy of nurturing, educating, and giving undertaken by the Mother of our Nation, H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, and her crucial role in promoting global tolerance and instilling the values of cultural diversity among all members of society.”
“The festival sends a distinct cultural message and encourages the growth of a society that uses the heritage and diversity of its values, customs and people as a strength, all of which is reflected in the plethora of activities and events that will span Abu Dhabi’s iconic Corniche Beach, H.E. Al Mubarak added.
The Mother of the Nation Festival also features a number of entertaining artistic shows grounded in our country’s cultural diversity, reflecting UAE’s collective embrace of different cultures that further enriches the community.
The Pavilion
A welcome contrast to the enlivening energy in the rest of the festival, The Pavilion will be a place of reflection on the values and vision of H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
Historical archives, objects, photographs, film and personal testimonies, many of which exhibited for the first time, will be brought to life in a number of dynamic zones. Visitors will be led on an engaging journey through the personal history of H.H. Sheikha Fatima, and the uplifting achievements of the “Daughters of the Nation.
The Active Zone
The Active Zone is action-packed with exhibits and shared spaces that reflect H.H. Sheikha Fatima’s focus on healthy families and the fostering of teamwork from a young age. Through interactive installations, activity cabanas, and a rejuvenating beach lounge, the Active Zone highlights the need for healthy bodies and minds that cooperate to achieve shared goals.
The Art Zone
Guests are invited to experience, interact with, and create art as they traverse a winding pathway that leads through a garden of creative activities themed around the art of motherhood. The core principles of art, which include unity, balance, contrast, movement, pattern, rhythm, and focus, reflect the essentials for motherhood and are spread out across the Art Zone’s diverse events and activities.
The artwork both already on display and created at the festival pays tribute to H.H. Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak as the Mother of our Nation and to all of the mothers across the UAE who inspire our families.
The Conservation Zone
Through interactive experiences that connect guests with the natural land- and seascapes of the UAE, the Conservation Zone promotes awareness of our shared environment and the vital need for its protection.
Featuring activities that focus on educating visitors and inviting them to live a sustainable lifestyle, the Conservation Zone experience is designed to bring families and their children one step closer to the natural landscape of the UAE. Activities include the Eco Safari, Under the Dome, Environmental Cabanas, and a Fisheries Climbing Sculpture.
The Beach Dining Zone
Lining the West Plaza of the Corniche, the Beach Dining Zone’s restaurants will operate as the main food and beverage hub of the festival.
Guests visiting this zone are presented with an extensive line-up of food options and ample seating by the beach for a relaxing experience with their families and friends, where they get to taste the best from local and international cuisines.
The Souq Zone
A perfect blend between world cultures and urban scenery, the Souq Zone represents the rich heritage and cultural exchange that continues to take place within the Emirate.
This zone will feature interactive shows and displays, along with a selected assortment of local traditional shops as well as international renowned brands.
The Souq Zone includes exciting workshops for visitors from all ages, in addition to playing areas for children to entertain themselves, all in an engaging environment for visitors to participate in various topics.
