Abu Dhabi Glows with Spellbinding Installations

Abu Dhabi: The Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, has launched the second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi, the Emirate’s flagship public light‑art exhibition, which is on till January 4, 2026. A spectacular preview earlier this month debuted in Al Ain, and the full programme is now fully active across the Emirate, illuminating mangroves, sandbanks, gardens and urban edges with a ‘breathing constellation’ of luminous artworks. The exhibition ‘The Light Compass’ celebrates the Gulf’s ancestral relationship with light as a guide and medium, drawing together contemporary creations that respond to both natural and technological forms of illumination.

Artistic Scope and New Locations

This year’s edition features 15 Emirati and international artists/collectives from 10 countries, presenting 23 site‑specific light sculptures, projections and immersive installations. Jubail Island serves as the anchor venue, hosting 15 large‑scale works by artists such as Shaikha Al Mazrou, Iregular, DRIFT, Encor Studio, Ezequiel Pini, Pamela Tan, Lachlan Turczan, Christian Brinkmann and Kirsten Berg. For the first time, the exhibition expands to Al Ain’s UNESCO‑listed oases of Al Qattara and Al Jimi, where seven installations by Maitha Hamdan, Ammar Al Attar, Khalid Shafar, Abdalla Al Mulla and Rafael Lozano‑Hemmer illuminate historic trails. Souq Al Mina spotlights COMPANION, a luminous sculpture lifting a glowing moon.

Public Programme and Visitor Experience

Alongside the artworks, a dynamic programme of free talks, workshops, performances and wellness activities runs throughout the exhibition. Highlights include keynote lectures with featured artists, interactive workshops with partners like Fujifilm and The Knot, and performances by Bedouin Burger, Haepaary and Ars Nova Napoli. Visitors can also enjoy immersive dining experiences such as WE ARE ONA X by chef Solemann Haddad and guided nature walks with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi’s Mangrove Initiative. Guided tours and pop‑up food and beverage outlets at Jubail Island, Al Qattara Oasis and Al Jimi Oasis ensure a fully immersive cultural journey.

Photo: Instagram/KAWS