The Al Hosn Festival is an annual celebration of Abu Dhabi’s Culture and heritage. Held at Qasr Al Hosn, the capital’s most treasured historic site, the festival invites visitors to immerse themselves in a journey to Abu Dhabi’s past through art, performances, souks, and cuisine.
Here’s what to expect at this year’s Al Hosn Festival:
When is the Festival?
The festival will be held on 19-28 January 2024. Doors open at 4 pm and close at 11 pm.
What’s new this year?
This year, the festival zones are divided into three sections: Heritage Zone, Crafts Zone, and Community Zone.
Heritage Zone
The Heritage Zone is all about experiencing cultural practices. Here, you can meet camels and falcons and a cultural representative will explain the traditions and rituals surrounding the animals.
The Heritage Zone will also host visitors in a “Traditional Home” – complete with a kitchen and a men’s majlis – and teach them about the traditional architecture and interiors of Emirati homes.
A brand new experience at the 2024 edition of the festival is the “Welcoming a Newborn” immersive experience, where festival-goers can follow community residents as they await the birth of their neighbors’ newborn and carry out important customs and traditions to welcome the newborn in both the world and their community.
Crafts Zone
The Crafts will be home to one of the most anticipated returning events: the Gahwa Championships. The Gahwa Championships is an Arabic coffee brewing contest with a focus on understanding how and why Gahwa is brewed in Emirati tradition. This zone will also host several arts-related festivities, including the House of Artisans, where visitors can learn about Henna mixology and meet Henna artists, and a bustling Bazaar and Farmer’s Market, led and curated by Emirati women, where you can browse and purchase traditional Emirati fashion and accessories.
Community Zone
The Community Zone will focus on music, performance, and cuisine. Music performances will be held at two locations: the Corniche and the Al Falaj area of Al Hosn. There, you can expect a packed schedule of the UAE’s most exciting musicians, from well-known Emirati singers to up-and-coming homegrown bands. Local pop-up stalls and food trucks will be available for festival-goers to enjoy a taste of Emirati cuisine and traditional Emirati Gahwa.
Tickets for the festival are priced at AED30 for adults aged 13-65 and AED15 for children aged 5-12, with free admission for children under 5 and senior citizens.