Abu Dhabi: The 22nd Abu Dhabi Festival is celebrating Japanese culture in one of the capital’s largest community events at Umm Al Emarat Park.
This two-day outdoor celebration, called ‘Festival in the Park,’ is part of the Abu Dhabi Festival 2025 and is organized under the honorary patronage of His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Her Highness Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan. The event is set to bring families and communities together as it highlights Japan as the Festival’s Country of Honour.
The festival takes place on April 12-13, 2025, at Umm Al Emarat Park in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This celebration is held during the UAE’s Year of Community 2025 and marks over 50 years of strong diplomatic ties between the UAE and Japan. It is a major part of the Abu Dhabi Festival, drawing people of all ages to experience rich cultural traditions and modern interpretatios of art, music, and dance.
Visitors will enjoy eight Japanese-inspired activity pavilions that offer hands-on sessions in origami, suminagashi, calligraphy, and manga anime, along with pavilions showcasing art and crafts from other cultures including Emirati art workshops.
Pokémon fans will have fun with interactive games and challenges such as the Chopstick and Rice Challenge, the Shogi board game, and a variety of Pokémon-themed activities. Guests also get a chance to interact with Japanese cartoon characters and experience wearing traditional Japanese kimonos while learning to make authentic Kyusu green tea.
In the park’s amphitheatre, stage performances from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm will bring together traditional and modern elements of both Emirati and Japanese cultures. The evening will feature school students performing a traditional Emirati dance, followed by a powerful Japanese taiko drum performance, and joint musical performances using drums, koto, and Japanese flutes.
The festivities will culminate with a live interactive art experience by VR artist Aimi Sekiguchi, ensuring that the audience experiences an enchanting blend of artistic traditions.
Organized by the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in the UAE, the event is designed to foster cultural exchange and celebrate diversity among Abu Dhabi’s more than 200 nationalities. ‘Festival in the Park’ aims to make art and culture accessible to everyone while promoting coexistence and unity.
The festival is free to attend, with only standard park entry fees, offering a perfect opportunity for families and communities to connect through art and cultural heritage.
