Abu Dhabi Festival is an annual cultural festival in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi , literally Father of Gazelle, is the capital and the second largest city of the United Arab Emirates in terms of population and the largest of the seven member emirates of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi lies on a T-shaped island jutting into the Persian Gulf from the central western...

, United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...

; established in 2004. The festival is presented by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation

Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation

The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation , established in 1996 is a non-profit organization in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates which aims to complement the city's cultural vision. ADMAF develops art, cultural and educational programs with leading national and international organizations, institutions...

. The event has been held under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, since 2007. It was originally under the patronage of HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, then Minister of Information and Culture. Abu Dhabi Festival is the largest classical arts event in the UAE.

Vision

The festival seeks to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s becoming a global destination of cultural enlightenment, respect and tolerance. Through new commissions as well as international and regional premieres, it pushes the boundaries of artistic excellence and creative innovation.

Abu Dhabi Festival reinforces the capital’s profile as an international arts metropolis

Metropolis

A metropolis is a very large city or urban area which is a significant economic, political and cultural center for a country or region, and an important hub for regional or international connections and communications...

; embedding art, education, culture and creativity into the heart of the Emirate. The festival is a strong advocate of cross-cultural understanding and plays a major role in cultivating the new artistic renaissance across the Middle East

Middle East

The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...

.

Commissions

Abu Dhabi Festival regularly stages world premieres and commissions new works, often in partnership with other international festivals.

Education

Abu Dhabi Festival has an educational programme which brings together participating artists, school, college and university students from across the UAE. It also helps in the positioning of the capital as a place where the world’s leading cultural minds meet and exchange ideas through public, life-long learning initiatives.

Awards

The Abu Dhabi Festival Award is presented each year to participating national university students who have excelled in the fields of performing and visual arts, music, film, literature and communication.