Sheikh Zayed Festival now runs until April 5 with free entry, giving visitors more time to explore pavilions, shows and food
The Sheikh Zayed Festival isn’t wrapping up just yet. If you’ve been meaning to go, or thinking you left it too late, you’ve got another chance. The Sheikh Zayed Festival has extended its run until April 5, and entry is now free. No tickets, no fuss. Just show up.
Set your timing for late afternoon. That is when the festival starts to come alive. As the sun dips behind Al Wathba, the pathways light up and the air fills with music, food and movement. There is a steady buzz from the moment you walk in. Families, groups of friends, kids darting between stalls, everyone settling into the night. The festival theme is Hayyakum, meaning welcome. It sounds simple, but it shows up everywhere. In the way people make space for each other. In the easy conversations with stall owners. In the small kindnesses you don’t expect but notice anyway.
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Start at the Heritage Village. It is the quiet heart of the festival and worth taking your time with. You will find desert, marine and oasis environments recreated in one space, along with craftspeople at work. It is hands-on and grounded, with weaving, pottery and traditional skills on display. From there, move through the international pavilions. More than 20 countries are represented, each bringing its own food, crafts and performances. It is the kind of place where you wander without a plan and still find something worth stopping for.
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Stay for the evening. That is when it all comes together. Live shows and fountains that move in time with the music. And now, with free entry and a few extra days, there is no reason not to go.
Location: Al Wathba
Time: 4pm to 12am
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