- Celebratory festival shares the progressive vision of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak
- The inaugural festival welcomed more than 133,000 visitors last year
- This year, the festival offers an extensive programme of over 100 activities, performances, and workshops
Abu Dhabi, UAE – 15 February 2017: Organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the second edition of Mother of the Nation Festival is set to kick off on Abu Dhabi Corniche from 26th March to 4th April 2017, offering a diverse range of experiences through more than 100 activities, performances, and workshops.
The Festival which attracted more than 133,000 visitors in its inaugural edition last year will once again pay tribute to the values and extensive contributions of HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, and President of the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood. This year’s edition will further highlight qualities of wisdom and giving among others through the many attractions and activity zones on offer for the duration of the festival.
HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman, TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “The celebratory return of the Mother of the Nation Festival this year underscores the tremendous role played by the vision and accomplishments of HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, in imparting values of responsibility and courage as well as advocating a progressive global perspective throughout the UAE.”
“The festival will uphold a powerful message of personal growth and communal collaboration, encouraging visitors to recognise the importance a sustainable future by providing educational, informative and entertaining environment through which future generations may learn, grow and strengthen.” HE Al Mubarak added.
Mother of The Nation Festival will be held along more than one kilometre of Abu Dhabi’s breath-taking Corniche beach, including an extensive selection of exhibitions, performances, installations, food and beverage offerings and exciting events across four diverse activity zones. These zones are designed as ideal platforms to present a vibrant array of entertaining and educational activities, offering an interactive and inspirational environment for visitors of all ages. The festival will also present Mother of The Nation Pavilion, a returning tribute to HH Sheikha Fatima’s vision and values in a new curatorial narrative.
HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “Building on last year’s success, Mother of the Nation Festival returns with a unique perspective, giving residents and visitors alike the chance to enjoy multiple experiences in a distinct environment, while offering local and small businesses the support to promote and establish their presence, with the aim to create a sustainable ecosystem surrounded by our values and vision for the future.”
“This festival is a platform that allows us to share stories and support our endeavours in positioning Abu Dhabi as a distinct destination. Mother of The Nation festival is a place of cultural exchange and openness, derived from the very same principles that define us.” HE added.
Each festival zone will promote a distinct concept highlighting the journey every individual takes in developing from a playful child to a progressive adult through familial care and motherhood. The Happiness Zone, offers young visitors the chance to experience a series of engaging activities, while progressive concepts for sustainability and conservation will be showcased through a number of interactive instalments in the Progress Zone.
The Souq Zone returns once more to unite traditional Emirati heritage with creative modernity through a selection of retail shops located throughout the festival, and Mother of The Nation Pavilion returns to represent a space for reflection and wonder for the contributions of HH Sheikha Fatima to the nation. Another returning zone at the festival is the Beach Dining Zone, which will provide an indulgent infusion of local and international cuisines across different areas of the festival for all to enjoy.
The Mother of the Nation Festival will also feature a number of entertaining artistic shows and performances inspired by the diverse cultures found throughout UAE, reflecting the nation’s embrace of international perspectives that further enrich the community.
The Happiness Zone
The Happiness Zone will offer exhibits of art and exciting activities, inspired by HH Sheikha Fatima’s commitment to fostering future generations through initiatives in which they may learn and grow. The zone will offer engaging workshops, activity cabanas and a music stage set to provide continuous entertainment for visitors of all ages.
Emphasising the importance of maintaining a healthy body and an active mind, visitors will be encouraged to find repose in shared spaces surrounded by exhibitions of creative inspiration reflecting the innate ingenuity found in younger generations.
The Progress Zone
Interactive experiences and installations will engage visitors with innovative concepts, encouraging them to think beyond what can be accomplished now to what can be achieved in the future. Promoting a progressive vision of continuous personal growth and urban development, the Progress Zone conveys a message of social responsibility.
A number of installations are set to offer innovative concepts for initiatives and ideas for conservation throughout the zone, educating visitors and inviting them to practice a sustainable lifestyle through diverse experiences for children and adults alike.
Beach Dining Zone
Located throughout the central stretch of the Mother of the Nation Festival, the Food & Beverage Zone’s restaurants, food trucks and stalls will provide visitors with unique favours from the UAE and around the world for the duration of the festival.
Visitors to this zone will be met with a tantalising line-up of dining options and cosy seating arrangements spread across various areas of the festival for all visitors to easily access and enjoy, it will offer a relaxing atmosphere to experience with families and friends while enjoying performances and live music from the festival’s Main Stage.
Mother of The Nation Pavilion
A memorable tribute to the accomplishments of the Mother of the Nation, #MOTN Pavilion will provide visitors a place of reflection on the enduring legacy of HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak.
Visitors will be invited to find inspiration in the values and vision of HH Sheikha Fatima, whose achievements and accomplishments will be housed within this tremendous interactive installation through a variety of historical offerings in a new curatorial concept.
The Souq Zone
Bridging international cultures with the quintessential urban experience, the Souq Zone will offer visitors a unique retail experience inspired by the rich heritage and cultural exchange the UAE is now renowned for worldwide.
This zone, which is also spread throughout different areas of the festival this year, will feature an impressive assortment of local traditional shops as well as a wide array of international brands, all while providing beautiful sights of artistic and creative achievement in jewellery making, dhow painting, Pop Up culture and much more.
