Abu Dhabi EidFest to begin on August 19

Abu Dhabi will be abuzz this Eid with a host of emirates-wide family activities, celebratory shows, mall entertainment, night markets and new attractions as the destination comes together to launch its first ‘EidFest Abu Dhabi’ promotion.

Spearheaded by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), EidFest brings the best of stakeholder offers to the table in a co-ordinated campaign to let visitors and residents share in the seasonal celebration making "Our Eid. Your Eid."

“This is the first of a regular EidFest Abu Dhabi campaign which is being promoted to ensure visitors and residents can come together to share the atmosphere and celebrations of this festive time,” explained Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi. “From this initial campaign we will assess response, factor in feedback and use it to consistently enhance future and bigger ‘EidFest Abu Dhabi’ promotions.”

Headlining the campaign are dinner concerts on August 19 and 20 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), running from 10.30pm until 1am.

Topping the Adnec bill on August 19 is the Abu Dhabi debut of Moroccan MBC star Mona Amarcha - winner of the ‘Album 5: Noujoum El Arab’ (Arab Stars) competition who has gone on to record hit albums in Egyptian and Gulf Arabic. Mona shares the bill with Lebanese star, Melhem ‘The Boss’ Zein.

“Mona has become a hit with Gulf audiences because of her ability to perform the Gulf dialect even though she says she only discovered Khaleeji music during the MBC competition,” said Sultan Al Muhairi of TCA Abu Dhabi’s EidFest programme. “Mona has performed sell-out concerts in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Dubai and Bahrain and is now coming to the UAE capital to make our Eid, her Eid. Melhem will complement Mona superbly and fans will get first hearings of songs from his new album.”

Heading to the Adnec stage on August 20 is Lebanese songstress, fashion icon and Rotana superstar, Najwa Karam, who is widely attributed with having expanded the outreach of the Arab music industry.

“Najwa’s appeal is huge with her having sold over 50 million records worldwide, having served as the main judge on the hit TV show ‘Arabia’s Got Talent,’ becoming the best-selling Middle Eastern artist for five years since 1999 and having produced the Middle East’s first 3D music video,” explained Al Muhairi.

Supporting the August 20 bill will be up-and-coming, 30-year-old Emirati star, Mansour Zayed, whose first recording, ‘Ya dam3i 3ini’, soared to success via YouTube. Mansour is now a key member of the ‘Rotana’ group.

“Mansour’s songs are very popular with young Gulf audiences and this will be a chance to see the next generation star perform on his home soil,” explained Al Muhairi.

Tickets for the ADNEC performances are on sale at Marina Mall, Abu Dhabi Mall and ADNEC’s Al Fanouse Ramadan Tent. They are priced at: Zone A – Dh850; Zone B - Dh650 and Zone C - Dh450.

The youngsters wont’ miss out either. There’ll be a live showing of the hit Jordanian TV kids music show, Karameesh, at Abu Dhabi National Theatre on August 20 from 7pm. Tickets for the show are priced at: Zone A - Dh325; Zone B – Dh225; Zone C – Dh125 and Zone D – Dh75. They are on sale at

Marina Mall and will be available at the National Theatre on the day of the show.

A host of Abu Dhabi malls, attractions, hotels and resorts have got behind the first EidFest Abu Dhabi promotion with entertainment, competitions, special offers, new attractions and celebratory shows.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi – the world’s biggest indoor theme park with the world’s fastest roller-coaster – will be hosting a quiz show over Eid. Called ‘Fast Lane’ and compared by a live host, the quiz will give visitors the chance to join in the fun and win fantastic prizes. The Emirates Park Zoo, in Al Bahia, will introduce a reptile and amphibians exhibit. Over in Al Ain – the emirate’s

heritage heartland – there will be an Eid night market at the Al Ain Heritage Village next to Sportsplex, while Al Ain Zoo will launch a new hippo exhibit, as well as annual and family passes.

The ever-popular Hili Fun City will stage its Grand Re-opening with celebratory evening shows.

The emirate’s malls take on a magical air with family fun throughout Eid. Abu Dhabi Mall goers can visit an Arabian Souk, discover henna painting and traditional food. They’ll see Ukrainian acrobats in action, watch performances of the much-loved Sinbad tales, see puppet shows and enjoy Oud playing. There’ll also be soap sculptures, pottery, silverware and antique displays.

Each Eid evening between 5pm-11pm at Khalidiya Mall there’ll be traditional music and dance shows, chances to have your photograph taken with a falcon, get your name written in calligraphy or engraved on rice and sample coffee and dates.

In Al Ain, the giant Bawadi Mall is hosting the Moroccan band ‘Ittihad Tanger Andalus’ - which sprang to fame from the ‘Arabia’s Got Talent’ TV show - from the first day of Eid until the end of the month, while shoppers who spend Dh200 or more go into a daily draw for a host of Apple products. Al Ain Mall is planning Qanoon and Oud concerts over the entire Eid period along with traditional dancing and magic shows.

“To make it all affordable for visitors to access, many of the emirate’s  hotels and resorts are extending compelling offers, providing discounts and in some cases, enticing cash-back offers,” explained Al Muhairi.

Meanwhile, TCA Abu Dhabi is planning a special EidFest welcome for visitors and residents during Eid. The authority will mount 10 EidFest booths throughout the emirate for the three days of Eid to welcome guests with dates and Arabic coffee while a henna designer will be on hand to decorate hands, free of charge.

The booths will operate throughout Eid from 10am until 10pm daily and will be in: Marina Mall, Khalidiya Mall, Mushrif Mall, Mazyad Mall, Dalma Mall, Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi International Airport, and in Al Ain at Al Jimi Mall, Al Bawadi Mall, and Al Ain Mall.

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