November 21, 2025 | Dubai, UAE: The cooler months in the UAE have always signaled a shift to outdoor living, but this winter Abu Dhabi’s landscape isn’t just opening up, it’s a actively glowing with the Manar Abu Dhabi 2025. The emirate’s landmark public light art exhibition, Manar abu dhabi 2025 has returned for its second edition and it’s bigger, brighter and more emotionally resonant than ever before.
Running from November 2025 through early January 2026. the festival has expanded its reach transforming natural sandbanks, historical oases and urban waterfronts into canvases for breathtaking light sculptures.
Organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). This year’s event the manar abu dhabi 2025 is curated under the beautiful theme, the Light Compass.This is more than just a catchy title .it’s a poetic nod to the region’s ancient reliance on starlight and the desert sun for guidance.
Today light becomes the language of contemporary public art, turning familiar locations into immersive reflective spaces that feel both ancient and futuristic. With over 23 newly commissioned works from a diverse group of international and Emirati artists.the 2025 edition truly reinforces Abu Dhabi’s standing as a global cultural hub offering an accessible and free experience for everyone who lives in or visits the capital.
Illumination Across the Capital and Its Anchor
Manar Abu Dhabi 2025,The geographical scope of the exhibition this year is ambitious weaving a thread of light through four distinct locations. The anchor point is the serene beauty of Jubail Island where the expansive mangrove ecosystem provides a unique natural backdrop for large scale installations.
Imagine wandering along boardwalks as sculptures of light dance upon the tidal waters, a truly magical sight. Jubail Island alone hosts fifteen distinct works, including Contingent Object by Emirati sculptor Shaikha Al Mazrou a circular land art installation that perfectly marries geometry with the surrounding nature.
Moving closer to the urban core,the exhibition also lights up Souq Al Mina blending the city’s bustling maritime heritage with cutting edge creativity. Here installations are designed to be viewed 24 hours a day, offering continuous engagement with the art. The selection of artists is globally renowned.
Dutch studio DRIFT known for their mesmerizing kinetic sculptures, returns with an installation that is already garnering significant attention. Also featured is Eden by Pamela Poh a delicate steel and glass sculpture that appears to hover effortlessly above the water embodying the theme of light as a guiding almost ethereal presence. This commitment to both local identity and global talent ensures that Manar abu dhabi 2025offers a nuanced dialogue between cultures.
Oasis Trails and Heritage Illuminated by Manar Abu Dhabi 2025
Perhaps the most exciting development for the 2025 return of Manar abu dhabi 2025 is its debut in Al Ain. For the first time .the festival extends its glow to the UNESCO World Heritage Site oases of Al Jimi and Al Qattara. This is a brilliant curatorial move transforming these green sanctuaries sustained for centuries by the traditional aflaj irrigation systems into breathtaking art trails.
The contrast is stunning contemporary light installations nestled among the towering palms and ancient textures of the oasis walkways. In Al Jimi Oasis, works like Ammar Al Attar’s photographic installation, Cycle of Circles, explore repetition and stillness offering moments of contemplation.
Another highlight is Maitha Hamdan’s Breath of the Same Place where cascading light ropes gently react to a visitor’s presence, creating an intimate, interactive experience rooted deeply within the heritage landscape. These Al Ain locations reinforce the idea of ‘The Light Compass’ by using light to navigate through the history and ecology of the emirate, inviting residents and tourists to experience the “Garden City” under a completely new artistic glow.
Beyond the Glow : Art, Technology and Community
The light installations themselves are only part of the story. The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi has ensured that Manar abu dhabi 2025 is a comprehensive cultural event complete with a robust program of talks, workshops and performances. These accompanying events deepen the engagement moving the conversation beyond aesthetics and into the realms of technology, history and community.
Eight curated talks are scheduled, bringing together artists, curators and technologists to discuss how public art interacts with the environment and technology. Topics range from “The Future of Art Without AI” to focused discussions on the Al Ain landscape featuring the participating Emirati artists.
These sessions offer a valuable opportunity for the public to gain insight into the creative process and the cultural vision driving the exhibition. Furthermore with daily guided tours and pop up cafes nestled among the installations. The festival encourages late-night exploration. Admission to the exhibition across all locations is freemaking Manar abu dhabi 2025 the quintessential, accessible cultural event this winter illuminating the capital and guiding visitors on a path of discovery and delight.
