This week it was announced that a festival to honour Sheikha Fatima and the nurturing role of mothers will be held on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche from March 24 to April 2.
A souq, art stalls, workshops and dining areas will be set up along a 1.3-kilometre stretch of sand, along with five activity zones to highlight the work of the supreme chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation.
The fact that the Mother of the Nation Festival is being held on the Corniche is, of course, no surprise.
From the days of sightseeing at the Volcano Fountain to swimming off the pristine Blue Flag beaches today, the waterfront attracts tens of thousands of people every week. It is a place to unwind, exercise and enjoy the sea air.
This photo from March 2008 shows the construction of the first official public beach on the Corniche. The 2km facility was free to use, cost Dh105 million and included a mosque, changing rooms, volleyball courts, refreshment areas and playgrounds, with a capacity for 5,000 beachgoers.
It opened in July of that year with a fireworks display over the water.
* John Dennehy
