This public art festival transforms the emirate into a glowing playground
Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of light this winter as Abu Dhabi is set to sparkle like never before.
Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 returns with its second edition, bringing together 15 Emirati and international artists from 10 countries to illuminate the emirate with a stunning array of light-based artworks.
Running from 15 November 2025, to 4 January, 2026 in Abu Dhabi and 1 November to 4 January, 2026 in Al Ain, the festival invites visitors to explore 23 immersive installations, site-specific light sculptures, and audio-visual performances across four key locations.
Themed ‘The Light Compass’, this edition celebrates light as a guiding force, blending poetic artistry with innovative technology, and drawing inspiration from the Gulf’s ancestral connection with illumination.
Jubail Island: The star of the show
The jewel of Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 will be Jubail Island, the festival’s anchor location.
Nestled between Yas and Saadiyat Islands, Jubail’s mangroves and boardwalks provide the perfect natural canvas for 15 large-scale installations and performances that explore the interplay of light, movement, and landscape.
Visitors will be able to wander among breathtaking works, including:
Eden (2025) by Pamela Poh, a luminous outdoor installation featuring suspended glass spheres that glow against the night sky.
Unfold (2025) by Dutch studio DRIFT, where biometric data transforms into ephemeral flowers and soundscapes, creating a mesmerising, evolving audio-visual experience.
Whispers (2025), a sea of dancing lights responding to the gentlest breeze, alongside the breathtaking Wind Of Change (2025) drone performance that choreographs hundreds of drones above the mangroves in a spectacle of growth and connection.
Contingent Object (2025) by Emirati sculptor Shaikha Al Mazrou, a 30-metre circular salt disc installation that evolves over time, creating a striking, ephemeral landmark within the island’s natural landscape.
Interactive installations by Montreal-based digital art studio Iregular, including As Water Falls, Faces, Control No Control, and Fortunes, explore shared spaces and collective presence through AI, sensors, and data visualisation.
Other highlights include works by Ezequiel Pini (Six N. Five), Christian Brinkmann, Encor Studio, Kirsten Berg, and Lachlan Turczan, all thoughtfully integrated into the island’s ecosystem to create a night-time journey of light, art, and reflection.
Al Ain: Light trails in heritage oases
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For the first time, Manar Abu Dhabi extends to Al Ain, with dedicated trails at Al Qattara and Al Jimi Oases, connecting visitors to the emirate’s desert landscapes and historic water systems.
Al Qattara Oasis Trail features works such as Translation Stream and Pulse Canopy by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, as well as Sadu Red Carpet (2025) by Emirati designer Khalid Shafar, blending traditional weaving techniques with contemporary light design.
Al Jimi Oasis Trail offers a meditative journey through five immersive installations, including Cycle Of Circles (2025) by Ammar Al Attar, Breath Of The Same Place (2025) by Maitha Hamdan, Guiding Drapes (2025) by Abdulla Al Mulla, and Floral Resonance (2024) by Christian Brinkmann, creating a multi-sensory dialogue between light, nature, and heritage.
Souq Al Mina: A monumental finale
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Back in the heart of Abu Dhabi, Souq Al Mina hosts Kaws: Holiday Abu Dhabi, featuring the artist’s iconic Companion, reclining and lifting a glowing moon above the city skyline.
This monumental piece links the emirate’s maritime history to contemporary public art, creating a playful and poetic spectacle along Mina Zayed’s waterfront.
Manar Abu Dhabi is part of the Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative, reflecting DCT Abu Dhabi’s ongoing commitment to enhancing urban landscapes with creative interventions.
In addition to the installations, a series of public talks, workshops, and performances will complement the exhibition, offering visitors a chance to engage directly with artists and ideas.
Whether exploring Jubail Island’s glowing mangroves, wandering historic Al Ain oases, or marveling at Kaws by the waterfront, Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 promises a season of light, imagination, and wonder.
Dates: Al Ain: 1 November 2025-4 January 2026; Abu Dhabi: 15 November 2025-4 January 2026. For more information, visit: dct.gov.ae or abudhabiculture.ae
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