Manar Abu Dhabi 2025: Experience Art and Light Across the Capital

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Abu Dhabi is transforming into a living canvas with Manar Abu Dhabi, the capital’s premier open-air light art exhibition. Showcasing both local and international talent, this festival invites visitors to explore the emirate’s coastal and desert landscapes through light, creativity, and interactive installations.

Launched in 2023 by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) as part of Public Art Abu Dhabi, Manar Abu Dhabi offers a multi-sensory experience that connects art with nature, community, and heritage.

Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 Overview

The second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi, themed “The Light Compass,” runs:

• Abu Dhabi: 15 November 2025 – 4 January 2026
• Al Ain: 1 November 2025 – 4 January 2026

The festival illuminates iconic locations, showcasing interactive installations, site-specific light sculptures, and audio-visual performances. Manar, meaning “Lighthouse” in Arabic, invites visitors to explore how light shapes perception and transforms spaces.

Curated by Reem Fadda and Alia Zaal Lootah, the event features a lineup of 15 artists from 10 countries, including both returning and new talent. Their works reinterpret light in relation to Abu Dhabi’s natural and urban landscapes.

Artists and Highlights

Key participants include:

• Pamela Poh: Eden (2025) – glowing glass spheres suspended under the night sky.
• DRIFT: Unfold (2025) – biometric data transformed into evolving floral light patterns.
• Shaikha Al Mazrou: Contingent Object (2025) – a monumental 30-meter circular salt-disc sculpture.
• Iregular: Interactive digital installations exploring human connection through AI and sensors.
• Additional contributions from Ezequiel Pini, Christian Brinkmann, Kirsten Berg, Encor Studio, Lachlan Turczan, and more.

The festival features immersive performances, drone shows, and kinetic light sculptures, making the emirate a hub for innovative public art.

Manar Abu Dhabi Locations

Jubail Island

• The anchor location for Manar Abu Dhabi 2025.
• Mangroves and boardwalks transformed into an illuminated landscape with 15 large-scale installations.
• Highlights: Wind of Change drone performance, interactive AI artworks, and immersive audio-visual installations.

Al Ain

• Two new locations: Al Qattara Oasis Trail and Al Jimi Oasis Trail.
• Installations include:
  • Translation Stream and Pulse Canopy by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer
  • Sadu Red Carpet by Khalid Shafar
  • Cycle of Circles by Ammar Al Attar
  • Breath of the Same Place by Maitha Hamdan
• Art here blends heritage, nature, and immersive light experiences.

Souq Al Mina

• Waterfront in Mina Zayed featuring KAWS: Holiday Abu Dhabi.
• The iconic COMPANION sculpture interacts with light and the moon, creating a poetic center for the city’s creative scene.

Other key locations include Fahid Island, Saadiyat Island, Eastern Mangroves, and Lulu Island, each featuring unique light installations integrated with Abu Dhabi’s natural and urban landscapes.

What to Expect at Manar Abu Dhabi

Visitors can enjoy:

• Interactive light trails and glowing outdoor galleries.
• Immersive installations connecting art, heritage, and environment.
• Workshops, discussions, and performances to engage with artists.
• Scenic night-time experiences across mangroves, deserts, oases, and waterfronts.

Manar Abu Dhabi is a celebration of creativity, reflection, and wonder, offering a unique way to explore the UAE’s art, culture, and environment.

FAQs About Manar Abu Dhabi

Q1: When does Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 take place?

• Abu Dhabi: 15 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
• Al Ain: 1 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026

Q2: Which locations are included?

• Jubail Island, Fahid Island, Saadiyat Island, Eastern Mangroves, Lulu Island, Al Qattara Oasis, Al Jimi Oasis, Souq Al Mina

Q3: What can visitors expect?

• Immersive light installations, interactive artworks, workshops, talks, and cultural performances across Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 is a must-visit cultural experience, seamlessly blending light, art, and nature. Whether exploring the glowing mangroves of Jubail Island, wandering Al Ain’s illuminated oases, or admiring the iconic KAWS sculpture, visitors are guaranteed a season of artistic discovery and inspiration.