Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26: One of the biggest events in Abu Dhabi is back

Incredible things keep happening in Abu Dhabi all year round. This time, it is Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26, counted among the biggest cultural and entertainment attractions in Abu Dhabi. Held annually in Al Wathba, this is a celebration of Emirati heritage, global cuisines, breathtaking entertainment, beautiful drone and pyrotechnic events, and so much more. Basically, you are in for a lot of fun at an event that is absolutely unmissable.

Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26 started just a handful of days back this month. The theme for this year is ‘Hayyakum‘ (referring to greetings). You can expect tens of thousands of people to explore this grand celebration of Emirati culture and presence of different nationalities in the UAE. From residents to tourists alike, this is a key event to put on one’s itinerary. Expect your calendar to be jam-packed as the festival features thousands of irresistible events.

There are a number of incredible things to do at Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26. Emirates Fountain is for huge screens, laser light effects and holograms creating stunning artistic performances and Heritage Village, on the other hand, features traditional markets, handicrafts and numerous events. Do not miss out the Sheikh Zayed Festival Fireworks as they tend to break global records almost every year. This year is not expected to be any different. Get ready for some of the most indulgent events in Abu Dhabi.

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Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26 Dates and Season Schedule

Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26 is happening from 1 November 2025 to 22 March 2026 (Sunday). Hosted in Al Wathba, this is one of the highly anticipated attractions in Abu Dhabi annually. One of the festival’s signature highlights, Sheikh Zayed Festival fireworks are scheduled for all Saturdays, on UAE National Day 2025 and New Year’s Eve in Abu Dhabi. These fireworks are special as they use the latest technology to create synchronised and artistic pyrotechnic celebrations set to music. Isn’t it incredible?

That’s not all. Sheikh Zayed Festival drone displays are also going to light up the sky on multiple occasions. This happened during the festival opening. You can expect similar celebrations during Eid al Etihad festival and NYE in Abu Dhabi. Therefore, keep your calendars free.

Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26 opening hours:

• Monday to Friday – 4:00 pm to midnight
• Saturday to Sunday – 4:00 pm to 1:00 am

Sheikh Zayed Festival Ticket Prices

For the ongoing Shiekh Zayed Festival 2025-26, the ticket prices are set at just AED 10 per person. The entry is complimentary for People of Determination, children under three years of age, and seniors (60+ years old). On New Year’s Eve, ticket prices are set at AED 50 per person.

You can get your Sheikh Zayed Festival tickets ON THIS LINK.

Sheikh Zayed Festival Location, Transportation and Parking

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Until 22 March 2026, one of the biggest annual events in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26, is going to feature more than 1,000 major public performances and events, pavilions of more than 20 countries, more than 25,000 exhibitors and participants, and a lot of enthusiasm from residents and tourists alike.

This year’s Sheikh Zayed Festival is being held in Al Wathba. You can find a number of free shuttle buses running at regular intervals from the main bus station of Abu Dhabi to Sheikh Zayed Festival grounds. There are nine buses in total, operating on Route 404. From Sunday to Thursday, buses start operating daily from 3:00 pm until 11:00 pm – and the return buses start at 4:30 pm and cease operations at 12:35 am. From Friday to Sunday, holidays and officials holidays, buses from Abu Dhabi to Sheikh Zayed Festival begin at 3:00 pm and end operations at 12:00 am. The return route sees operations from 4:30 pm to 1:30 am.

You can find Sheikh Zayed Festival bus timings ON THIS LINK.

Besides buses, there are also dedicated taxi pickup and drop-off areas at the festival grounds. There are also ride-hailing platforms like Careem and Uber to rely on. Or for people choosing to drive instead, just put the festival’s location on your maps app and zoom on. There are ample of parking spaces at Sheikh Zayed Festival. But getting the help of public transport is much more recommended for tourists and residents alike.

There are dedicated Dubai to Abu Dhabi buses operated by RTA at regular intervals on each day. You need around 1 hour and 30 minutes to get from Dubai to Sheikh Zayed Festival. People in Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah can also rely on public transportation to get to the annual event in 2 hours and 20 minutes and 2 hours and 40 minutes, respectively.

Top things to do at Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26

Sheikh Zayed Festival is one of the biggest calendar events in Abu Dhabi. Therefore, the list of top things to do here is going to be equally appealing. Starting from the theme for this year ‘Hayyakum’ to special events lined up throughout the festival, each day is going to be absolutely memorable for those attending.

1. Cultural pavilions at Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26

One of the key attractions of Sheikh Zayed Festival is The Heritage Village. You can get a better understanding of the Emirati life through its pavilions, folk performances and bustling markets. Do not miss other important landmarks, such as Family Entertainment City. That’s certainly not all. One of the biggest festivals in Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Zayed Festival is also going to host a bunch of competitions, such as Emirati Traditional Cuisine Contest and Zayed Grand Camel Race. Isn’t it all so exciting?

Plus, this key attraction in Abu Dhabi is going to feature more than 22 international pavilions from different countries and continents across the globe, including India, Egypt, Yemen, Bahrain, Japan, China, Morocco and Turkey. There are going to be six UAE Civilization Pavilions at the festival, including Abu Dhabi Majlis Pavilion, The People and the UAE Pavilion, Customs and Traditions Pavilion, Nation’s Memory Pavilion and more. Your experience is going to be much more magical than you currently expect it to be.

2. Live events at Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26

You can expect more than 4,000 cultural events at Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26. There are beautiful national events, such as the Union Parade next month, the UAE National Day 2025 or Eid al Etihad celebrations, incredible NYE celebrations and Ramadan events. Make sure to keep your eyes out for stunning pyrotechnic and drone displays, especially on Saturdays and NYE.

The daily Shiekh Zayed Festival events include, Wildlife Secrets Sanctuary, Heritage Village Ambiance, Ice Rink, Dinosaur Park, Flying Restaurant, Al Wathba Winterland, Roller Coaster Ride, Quick Games and Cartoon Characters. You can expect these events happening almost on all days of the festival. Furthermore, do not miss the regular Sheikh Zayed Festival fireworks displays every Saturday at 11:30 pm.

3. Food courts and local cuisine in focus

Food is a big part of the UAE’s society. Tens of thousands of people flock to this country just to get their hands of different cuisines from across the globe. Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26 features more than 150 food outlets. You can also attend the Traditional Food Competition as one of the many Heritage Competitions at the festival. Starting from indulgent Indian food to spicy Chinese delicacies and the underrated Emirati cuisine, people here can dig into a number of irresistible dishes from different cuisines at the respective country pavilions. You can definitely expect an authentic taste.

4. Carnival and Amusement Area at Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26

Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26 has a lot of offerings for the kids. You can come to Ice Rink, Dinosaur Park, Children’s Theatre, Roller Coaster Ride and Flying Restaurant for all the thrill and fun. There are also plenty of quick games to be part of, cartoon characters to meet at the festival and Traditional Food Competition to attend and make memories that last a lifetime.

Daily and seasonal Sheikh Zayed Festival events calendar

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1. Daily events at Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26

2. Main events at Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26

3. Special Events at Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26

4. Heritage Competitions (Sheikh Zayed Festival accompanying)

Sheikh Zayed Festival New Year’s Eve Celebrations 2025-26

Sheikh Zayed Festival fireworks have broken multiple global records from time to time. The festival broke records last year, too. You can expect similar celebrations, on a much bigger scale possibly. Besides the pyrotechnic celebrations, drone displays are also going to light up the sky and let the guests make some of the best memories of their lifetime. Fireworks are also happening on each Saturday at 11:30 pm. Do not miss these.

Best hotels near Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26

Looking for the best places to stay near Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26? Here are some of our top recommendations. For more than three three months, this annual event in Abu Dhabi is going to lure guests from different parts of the globe. Let us take a look at some of the best hotels near the festival, ensuring comfort, sophistication and thoughtful hospitality.

Al Wathba, A Luxury Collection Desert Resort and Spa, is one of the best hotels near Sheikh Zayed Festival. You can get a taste of both luxury and comfort here. Al Riyadh Hotel Apartments is another top place to stay near the attraction for a peaceful and comfortable experience. You can book a stay at Metropolitan Al Mafraq Hotel for both leisure and business purposes. Gravity Hotel, on the other hand, is suitable for budget stays near the festival. AUHotel – Zayed International Airport, Transit Area is close to both tbe Abu Dhabi Airport and the Sheikh Zayed Festival ground, letting you access both the key landmarks at ease.

Top tips for visiting Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26

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1. Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26 is one of the best family-friendly attractions in Abu Dhabi. Public displays of affection are not permitted. It is also recommended to dress modestly and make the most of the different tourism offerings of the festival.

2. Pets are not permitted and so are any sort of bikes inside the festival.

3. You can find a number of facilities and services at the gate entrances, including but not limited to police station, information desk, lost and found, mosque, buses and taxis, toilets, concierge, TokTok, wheelchairs, children strollers, shopping cart, valet parking, ATMs, parking spaces, medical centre and ambulance, and nursery.

4. Please keep in mind that there are ample parking spaces at Sheikh Zayed Festival, but it is recommended to use public transport. There are at least nine free shuttle buses running from the main bus station of Abu Dhabi to Sheikh Zayed Festival, operating from as early as 3:30 pm until late in the night. On Friday to Sunday, these buses operate for longer hours.

5. Sheikh Zayed Festival’s ticket prices are set at AED 10 per person. For NYE celebrations, the tickets are going to cost AED 50. Because of limited availability, it is recommended to book the tickets as soon as possible.

6. Do not miss the fireworks at Sheikh Zayed Festival. These pyrotechnic displays are extraordinary this year and break global records. You can expect the same enthusiasm this year, too. Make sure to get a good spot for yourself to catch a better glimpse of the fireworks and click beautiful pictures for social media.

7. Sheikh Zayed Festival’s opening hours are from Sunday to Thursday – 4:00 pm to 12:00 am and Friday to Saturday – 4:00 pm to 1:00 am. Free shuttle buses are running till late in the night. You can explore the festival during the sunset hours for the best pictures or during the late night fireworks displays on each Saturday at 11:30 pm.

Sheikh Zayed Festival 2025-26: Frequently asked questions

Book your Sheikh Zayed Festival tickets today itself to explore one of the biggest annual events in Abu Dhabi at ease.