![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SCUJENMAFABZKKMRFPETPJVTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d636d4be5d0c688c0b48819b2bdd0f73d988ede1fcb4965d674341746f29e4b&width=400&height=225)
The cultural event honours the country’s customs and traditions.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F22KZYLGBJF7ZBEI6YTWRZO3QM.jpg?smart=true&auth=79ec3874c511694329b8a01b987b13b93ce80d839d0c0312205878f2e91560ce&width=400&height=225)
A band performs at the opening of the 2021 Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba. All photos by Ruel Pableo / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MQI4TW5EIVABJKXL56LBXAM2UE.jpg?smart=true&auth=737967d9dfaf1091f25d2f7724e63050fffdf0787ddd0bafef6d859a3943b43e&width=400&height=225)
Daily folklore performances from more than 21 countries took place.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J4A7L6AIWNFADIZDUWDC42NWGQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9454b19f15fa15a1a440e5a01c5ec1f8512f0245fad425f90b97e532facb224f&width=400&height=225)
The Miracle Garden at the Sheikh Zayed Festival.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MJVTS36C7FCDXL6XZNSO3OHYRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4dc31f2a72607202985913565c074fa76ec41b0946b68d7f65d96f3c38fb7d4e&width=400&height=225)
The festival attracted visitors, entertainers and exhibitors from all over the world.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X5F2DU7CCJFFFFDPHBSANPCEJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec7af979f9696283a76a606f46f32c026165cd5531eecc24d6ef701478361f73&width=400&height=225)
The Miracle Garden has been overhauled and expanded at the Sheikh Zayed Festival.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SVFJ3G25K5ADNMH4B5662FBJ4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff0a8347cea47318c42697466300b17c9b3c96b2ad39ed8cc29e7ff88815fd9d&width=400&height=225)
Light installations at The Miracle Garden. Ruel Pableo / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OB4EZNJSMNGXTHW4FWGPC5XOWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0809b6f34252115cc6b069df85230555072ec205ca0bd919ed909224738b997a&width=400&height=225)
More than 4,500 international cultural events took place during the five-month festival.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3ZMVXAPXT5CO3PHGUBXBCOIMRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fa389cd4276a285cc255c357f8f3b8ff039a46ff6559eedf5a590fd66b0c68d&width=400&height=225)
Musicians performed at the opening of the event.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YPOOQC2MJ5BQBN5GVWYRPDR7PI.jpg?smart=true&auth=48cf0acf254e392eeff8ee5f0def6bd5c42a7b72bfc6bed9b702bfb434f76d71&width=400&height=225)
A special zone featured interactive displays highlighting some of the country’s most recent accomplishments.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2J4KCGCLJVDA7IIVUKBG5CA37E.jpg?smart=true&auth=f13c3ffefdd36a9e9bc63590ccd9582636aca64a5375f27cf8e549422fc2509a&width=400&height=225)
The festival has augmented its Al Wathbah venue almost twofold, with dedicated districts for several countries.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UBLMRP2HKRA5DJZSM6COY5N6IM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1a2cf736cfb2555763ac41d93936204d32fbb44e6b2872007dec64200a9f1ec&width=400&height=225)
A parade of different cultures.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XEP5JLSJDFB2RCTZIOOJZG732A.jpg?smart=true&auth=89425f4b3b260a409033ddd85c7e57a317d36c39c8d38b4691b93543d08a17ca&width=400&height=225)
Stands stocked with spices, foods, clothes, books and trinkets.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TTEK3P62VZBRJLZTCKUQ4EAHNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1fce45af2864aded0c4b087abe1a7d82bbe189ca6d137bb5ad973e5cbe1b3bd&width=400&height=225)
Halwa, a regional favourite, is among the must-try dishes on offer.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SCUJENMAFABZKKMRFPETPJVTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d636d4be5d0c688c0b48819b2bdd0f73d988ede1fcb4965d674341746f29e4b&width=400&height=225)
The cultural event honours the country’s customs and traditions.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/F22KZYLGBJF7ZBEI6YTWRZO3QM.jpg?smart=true&auth=79ec3874c511694329b8a01b987b13b93ce80d839d0c0312205878f2e91560ce&width=400&height=225)
A band performs at the opening of the 2021 Sheikh Zayed Festival at Al Wathba. All photos by Ruel Pableo / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MQI4TW5EIVABJKXL56LBXAM2UE.jpg?smart=true&auth=737967d9dfaf1091f25d2f7724e63050fffdf0787ddd0bafef6d859a3943b43e&width=400&height=225)
Daily folklore performances from more than 21 countries took place.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J4A7L6AIWNFADIZDUWDC42NWGQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=9454b19f15fa15a1a440e5a01c5ec1f8512f0245fad425f90b97e532facb224f&width=400&height=225)
The Miracle Garden at the Sheikh Zayed Festival.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MJVTS36C7FCDXL6XZNSO3OHYRI.jpg?smart=true&auth=4dc31f2a72607202985913565c074fa76ec41b0946b68d7f65d96f3c38fb7d4e&width=400&height=225)
The festival attracted visitors, entertainers and exhibitors from all over the world.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/X5F2DU7CCJFFFFDPHBSANPCEJU.jpg?smart=true&auth=ec7af979f9696283a76a606f46f32c026165cd5531eecc24d6ef701478361f73&width=400&height=225)
The Miracle Garden has been overhauled and expanded at the Sheikh Zayed Festival.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SVFJ3G25K5ADNMH4B5662FBJ4I.jpg?smart=true&auth=ff0a8347cea47318c42697466300b17c9b3c96b2ad39ed8cc29e7ff88815fd9d&width=400&height=225)
Light installations at The Miracle Garden. Ruel Pableo / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/OB4EZNJSMNGXTHW4FWGPC5XOWM.jpg?smart=true&auth=0809b6f34252115cc6b069df85230555072ec205ca0bd919ed909224738b997a&width=400&height=225)
More than 4,500 international cultural events took place during the five-month festival.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3ZMVXAPXT5CO3PHGUBXBCOIMRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=7fa389cd4276a285cc255c357f8f3b8ff039a46ff6559eedf5a590fd66b0c68d&width=400&height=225)
Musicians performed at the opening of the event.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YPOOQC2MJ5BQBN5GVWYRPDR7PI.jpg?smart=true&auth=48cf0acf254e392eeff8ee5f0def6bd5c42a7b72bfc6bed9b702bfb434f76d71&width=400&height=225)
A special zone featured interactive displays highlighting some of the country’s most recent accomplishments.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2J4KCGCLJVDA7IIVUKBG5CA37E.jpg?smart=true&auth=f13c3ffefdd36a9e9bc63590ccd9582636aca64a5375f27cf8e549422fc2509a&width=400&height=225)
The festival has augmented its Al Wathbah venue almost twofold, with dedicated districts for several countries.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UBLMRP2HKRA5DJZSM6COY5N6IM.jpg?smart=true&auth=c1a2cf736cfb2555763ac41d93936204d32fbb44e6b2872007dec64200a9f1ec&width=400&height=225)
A parade of different cultures.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XEP5JLSJDFB2RCTZIOOJZG732A.jpg?smart=true&auth=89425f4b3b260a409033ddd85c7e57a317d36c39c8d38b4691b93543d08a17ca&width=400&height=225)
Stands stocked with spices, foods, clothes, books and trinkets.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TTEK3P62VZBRJLZTCKUQ4EAHNQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e1fce45af2864aded0c4b087abe1a7d82bbe189ca6d137bb5ad973e5cbe1b3bd&width=400&height=225)
Halwa, a regional favourite, is among the must-try dishes on offer.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SCUJENMAFABZKKMRFPETPJVTA.jpg?smart=true&auth=1d636d4be5d0c688c0b48819b2bdd0f73d988ede1fcb4965d674341746f29e4b&width=400&height=225)
The cultural event honours the country’s customs and traditions.
Sheikh Zayed Festival opens in Abu Dhabi with family-friendly Golden Jubilee celebrations
The cultural jamboree takes place in Al Wathba region until April 1, with big festivities expected for National Day
![Razmig Bedirian](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F275b4b76-cb6d-410e-a5df-c23d65484c26.png?smart=true&auth=fc94b07464368c9c664f3bd102f95ffe4c76b1b38fe7d6fee2362e26add51d0e&width=70&height=70)
Razmig Bedirian
19 November, 2021
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