UAE | General

Abu Dhabi Eid festivities start on October 26

Police will deploy additional patrols through holiday period

By Nada Al Taher, Staff Reporter
Published: 17:57 October 21, 2012

Abu Dhabi: Award-winning artists, theatre performances, exhibitions and special offers will lend variety to celebrations in the capital as EidFest Abu Dhabi pans out from October 26 to 29.

Faisal Al Shaikh, events manager at Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA), sought to highlight the community theme of the celebrations. “Eid is a time of celebration, of sharing happiness and experiences, where everyone comes together. EidFest Abu Dhabi will be the common thread that binds the community, helping create memories and experiences that will help define the holiday period,” he said.

The festivities include the Yasalam festival at the corniche which will witness performances by international artists such as Tamir Hosny and US stars Cee lo Green and Missy Elliot. Access to the event is free for the public.

For those who crave their fill of shopping, the Eid Al Adha ShopFest will run from October 18-27 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), bringing the atmosphere of an Arabian-themed bazaar to life with bargains on everything from clothing, paintings and fabrics to handicrafts. Entrance is free for the event.

There are also a host of activities and shows for youngsters. These include Barney Let’s Go! Live On Stage! featuring the lovable purple dinosaur. The show will be held twice daily at Adnec from October 26-28 for a 90-minute special.

For the more culturally inclined, the Emirates Palace hotel will host the regional finale of the runaway hit Rest Upon the Wind’s world tour — a revered theatrical stage production based on the life and times of Khalil Gibran, the third best-selling poet of all time and celebrated author of The Prophet, which has been published in more than 44 languages and sold over 140 million copies worldwide.

Produced by Ali Mattar and directed by Tanushka Marah, the one-night-only show — part of the production’s world tour — has been organised by TCA Abu Dhabi and will be staged on October 27.

Meanwhile, the General Headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Police has launched an awareness campaign to effectively address any traffic congestion issues during the holiday. The initiative will see more patrol cars doing duty during the holiday under directions from the security media administration at the Secretariat of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior’s office.

Major General Mohammad Al Awadi Al Menhali urged the public to comply with all rules meant to ensure their safety and to prevent untoward incidents in public places such as parks, gardens and shopping malls.

Brigadier Mohammad Saleh Baddah Al Awadi, acting director of public relations in the Ministry of Interior, called on people to supervise their children at all times to avert injuries or cases of children getting lost in crowded areas.

Al Awadi also urged parents not to leave young children at home alone given the risk of injury from fire or sharp objects.