Manar Abu Dhabi is a large-scale light art exhibition that turns Abu Dhabi’s shoreline and heritage sites into a living canvas after dark. Expect immersive installations, site-specific sculptures and performances that invite you to wander, pause and look at familiar places in a new light.

• Theme
• Artists
• Locations
• FAQs

Overview

Launched in 2023 by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi as part of Public Art Abu Dhabi, Manar (Arabic for lighthouse) invites residents and visitors to explore how light reshapes space, memory and landscape. From mangroves and boardwalks to waterfront souqs and desert oases, each venue becomes a stage for artworks that evolve with wind, tides, sound and movement.

The inaugural 2023 edition carried the theme Grounding Light, introducing original commissions and projections across the capital’s landmarks. It established Manar as a place to encounter art in situ, bridging nature, technology and community through a multisensory journey.

Al Manar Abu Dhabi second edition

Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 continues the emirate’s mission to connect art with nature and community. The second edition runs from 15 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 in Abu Dhabi, and from 1 November to 4 January 2026 in Al Ain.

This year’s curatorial theme, The Light Compass, highlights light as a guide and metaphor for orientation across sea and desert. Visitors can follow illuminated trails, interact with responsive works and experience moments of contemplation that echo the region’s historic relationship with stars, moonscapes and wayfinding. Public programming will include talks, workshops and performances that deepen the dialogue between artists and audiences.

Artists lineup

Manar Abu Dhabi 2025–26 brings together 15 Emirati and international artists representing 10 countries. The mix of returning and debuting artists underscores the festival’s global reach and local roots. The lineup includes:

• Pamela Poh
• DRIFT
• Shaikha Al Mazrou
• Iregular
• Ezequiel Pini (Six N. Five)
• Christian Brinkmann
• Encor Studio
• Kirsten Berg
• Lachlan Turczan
• Khalid Shafar
• Abdulla Al Mulla

Together, they transform coastal and desert settings into radiant outdoor galleries, exploring how light shapes perception, scale and sound. The program spans large-scale installations, site-specific sculptures and audio-visual performances tuned to each location’s natural rhythms.

Manar Abu Dhabi locations

Manar unfolds across signature sites in the capital and beyond, weaving artworks into the coastal environment and historic oases. Highlights include a flagship experience on Jubail Island, expanded trails in Al Ain’s oases and a landmark installation along the Souq Al Mina waterfront. Beyond installations, visitors can look forward to talks, workshops and special performances that animate each venue after sunset.

Jubail Island

As the anchor location of the second edition, Jubail Island offers a spectacular natural backdrop between Yas and Saadiyat. Boardwalks, mangroves and tidal inlets become stages for light, water and sound to converge, creating a contemplative night-time walk that emphasizes the ecology of the island and the sensory qualities of light.

Across the boardwalk and shoreline, visitors can expect around 15 large-scale installations and performances exploring movement, reflection and environment. Notable works announced include:

• Eden (2025) by Pamela Poh: A luminous outdoor constellation of suspended glass spheres, glowing subtly against the night sky to echo dew, stars and marine bioluminescence.
• Unfold (2025) by DRIFT: Biometric data translates into ephemeral blossoms and soundscapes, composing a constantly evolving choreography that merges human presence with nature’s tempo.
• Whispers (2025): A sea of responsive lights that sway and scatter like shoals with the gentlest breeze, visualizing wind as a living material.
• Wind Of Change (2025): A choreographed drone performance above the mangroves tracing luminous formations, from celestial patterns to abstract geometries, across the sky.
• Contingent Object (2025) by Shaikha Al Mazrou: A 30-metre circular salt-disc that slowly transforms, becoming a striking landmark that dialogues with the island’s tidal cycles and mineral history.
• Interactive works by Iregular: Including As Water Falls, Faces, Control No Control and Fortunes, these installations use sensors, light and responsive visuals to explore perception, play and connection.

Additional highlights include pieces by Ezequiel Pini (Six N. Five), Christian Brinkmann, Kirsten Berg, Encor Studio and Lachlan Turczan. Seamlessly integrated within the mangroves and pathways, these works create a reflective journey where footsteps, water and ambient sound become part of the art.

Al Ain

For the first time, Manar extends inland to Al Ain, introducing two radiant trails woven through the city’s historic oases and heritage irrigation systems. The gentle glow of the works underscores the timeless dialogue between water, agriculture and community.

Al Qattara Oasis Trail features:

• Translation Stream and Pulse Canopy by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Two interrelated works that interact with the surrounding environment through light and motion, creating communal spaces for gathering and wonder.
• Sadu Red Carpet (2025) by Khalid Shafar: A contemporary reinterpretation of traditional weaving patterns, rendered in luminous textures that celebrate regional craft and design.

Al Jimi Oasis Trail invites a meditative exploration through five 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
• Floral Resonance (2024) by Christian Brinkmann

Each piece creates a dialogue between light, heritage and desert serenity, turning the oases’ pathways into luminous corridors of memory and reflection.

Souq Al Mina

In the heart of Abu Dhabi, the Souq Al Mina waterfront at Mina Zayed hosts KAWS: Holiday Abu Dhabi, presented with AllRightsReserved. The monumental COMPANION sculpture reclines while lifting a glowing moon, linking the city’s maritime legacy with its contemporary creative scene and offering a poetic beacon along the waterfront.

Plan your visit: practical tips

• Dates: Abu Dhabi installations run 15 November 2025 to 4 January 2026; Al Ain runs 1 November to 4 January 2026.
• Best time to go: After sunset for optimal visibility. Weeknights are typically calmer; weekends bring a lively atmosphere.
• What to bring: Comfortable walking shoes, water, a light layer for evening breezes and a fully charged phone or camera.
• Etiquette: Respect signage, keep to designated paths, avoid touching works unless invited and help protect sensitive environments like mangroves.
• Family-friendly: Many installations are suitable for all ages; interactive works are especially engaging for kids.
• Accessibility: Boardwalks and paved paths at select sites support strollers and wheelchairs; check venue-specific guidance before visiting.

FAQs about Manar Abu Dhabi

What are the Manar Abu Dhabi dates?

The second edition runs 15 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 in Abu Dhabi and 1 November to 4 January 2026 in Al Ain.

Which locations are included in Manar Abu Dhabi?

Key 2025–26 locations include Jubail Island, Al Ain’s Al Qattara and Al Jimi Oasis Trails, and the Souq Al Mina waterfront. Past editions and wider programming have also featured sites such as Fahid Island, Saadiyat Island, Eastern Mangroves, Lulu Island and the Abu Dhabi Corniche.

Is Manar Abu Dhabi ticketed?

Many outdoor installations are free to visit. Certain performances, tours or workshops may require advance registration or tickets; check official event channels for the latest details.

What is the theme for 2025–26?

The Light Compass, a celebration of light as a guiding force and a symbol of the region’s enduring connection to navigation, stars and horizons.

When is the best time to visit the installations?

Arrive shortly after sunset for the most vivid light conditions and cooler temperatures. To avoid crowds, consider early weeknights.

Can I take photos and videos?

Personal photography is welcome across most outdoor sites. For drones, performances and any professional shoots, follow onsite instructions and venue policies.

Are there talks, workshops and performances?

Yes. Manar Abu Dhabi complements the installations with public talks, guided walks, workshops and live performances that engage visitors with artists and ideas throughout the season.

Whether you are tracing glowing paths through the mangroves of Jubail Island, wandering Al Ain’s illuminated oases or meeting a moonlit giant at Souq Al Mina, Manar Abu Dhabi offers a season of creativity, reflection and wonder—an invitation to embrace art under the stars.