As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance quality of life and deliver integrated community events targeting all segments of society, Abu Dhabi City Municipality organised the “Winter Festival” across a number of areas, in line with the Year of the Family. The initiative reinforces the Municipality’s facilities as preferred destinations for the public to enjoy family-oriented leisure experiences, particularly during the winter season.
Diverse Activities at Lake Park
At Lake Park opposite the Abu Dhabi Corniche, the Winter Festival featured a wide range of entertainment and educational programmes within a distinctive winter atmosphere. Activities were designed to cater to various age groups and included awareness workshops, children’s entertainment segments, and food trucks that added vibrancy to the event.
The festival also featured a traditional market comprising ten kiosks showcasing a variety of local products from Emirati productive family projects, in support of small-scale enterprises.
The festival further included awareness workshops and educational activities aimed at strengthening community responsibility and raising awareness of regulations and best practices for preserving the city’s public appearance and municipal facilities, in line with the urban and civilisational development witnessed across Abu Dhabi.
Extensive Strategic Partnerships
The festival witnessed broad cooperation with a number of the Municipality’s strategic partners from both the public and private sectors, including: Abu Dhabi Police, Civil Defence, the General Women’s Union, Tadweer Group, Fitness Express, Medeor Hospital, Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, AD Ports Group, the Animal Welfare Society, and the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development.
Family-Focused Events in Al Shamkha
Within the same framework, the Winter Festival was also organised at Al Shamkha Square in collaboration with the National Archives and Library, the Ministry of Interior – Human Rights Department, the Department of Health, Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination, Burjeel Hospital, and Taboulonia Medical Centre.
The festival targeted families with the aim of strengthening family cohesion, supporting productive families, and showcasing their talents and creative outputs. The programme included a market for productive family creations, partner awareness zones, dedicated play areas for children and youth, awareness workshops on preserving the city’s public appearance, assets, and facilities, workshops on Emirati etiquette and heritage, as well as competitions and prizes for visitors.
“Winter Market” in Al Falah and Al Rahba
Al Falah Square and Al Rahba Square also hosted the “Winter Market”, aimed at supporting productive families and small business owners, while offering a winter entertainment experience combining shopping, food, family activities, and interactive performances.
The initiative contributed to strengthening community bonds by creating welcoming spaces for social interaction and highlighting local heritage and identity through traditional products, popular cuisine, and accompanying activities.
The events included awareness workshops on preserving the city’s civilised appearance and public facilities, workshops on agriculture and sustainability, the distribution of seedlings to visitors, interactive cultural workshops, theatrical and artistic performances, musical segments, children’s interactive activities, magic and clown shows, in addition to competitions and prizes for participants.
A Sustainable Community Vision
Abu Dhabi City Municipality affirmed that the organisation of these events falls within the vision of the Department of Municipalities and Transport to create vibrant community facilities and deliver high-quality events that align with public aspirations, strengthen social cohesion, and reinforce awareness and positive civic behaviour.
These efforts reflect Abu Dhabi’s advanced standing as a global city offering diverse recreational and educational experiences for all members of society within modern community facilities.