Abu Dhabi, one of the wealthiest cities in the world, hosts plenty of events and festivals throughout the year.

Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage ( Visit Site )

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage - plays a significant role in supporting the local arts community. ADACH contributes to some of the best international fairs that attract millions of tourists from all over the world.

Events & Festivals

Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF) ( Visit Site )

Abu Dhabi has an unparalleled capacity of arranging any global event and the year-on-year success of its own International Film Festival is proof of this. The inaugural festival in 2007 (then called The Middle East International Film Festival-MEIFF) garnered an extensive media coverage of over 550 press members from almost 40 different countries. They specially flew to Abu Dhabi to witness this fascinating film festival and watch nearly 200 screenings of more than 150 different movies. The festival has gone from strength to strength and was re-branded as the ADFF (Abu Dhabi Film Festival) in 2010 to allow it to compete more effectively with the Dubai Film Festival, the Doha Tribeca Film Festival and Cannes etc.

The world renowned film festival is hosted by the ADACH and is a celebration of cinema, displaying a wide range of international films. This festival helps build rapport amongst the films buffs and those who wish to invest in the future of film-especially in the Middle East. The popularity and achievement of the MEIFF/ADFF over the years has seen it grow with more films and programming sections being added to the schedule. The prestigious ‘Black Pearl Award’ is the highlight of the festival, praising those who have contributed to film and bringing together gifted producers with major film companies from across the globe.

Formula One ( Visit Site )

Abu Dhabi hosted the first Formula One Grand Prix in 2009 at the Yas Marina Circuit with the final race of the inaugural Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Etihad Airways, the flag carrier airline of Abu Dhabi, is the current major sponsor of Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Hermann Tilke designed Yas Marina Circuit is built on the intriguing Bani Yas Island off the coast of Abu Dhabi. Although, considered among the newest F1 circuits in the world, it is one of the most technologically advanced in the world. It is the only motorsports venue where all the five grandstands (Main Grandstand, West Grandstand, North Grandstand, South Grandstand and Marina Grandstand) are covered. The 5.55km circuit is also used for other smaller sporting events such as drag racing and hosts a number of corporate events throughout the year.

Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) ( Visit Site )

This is the fastest growing book fair in the Middle East, providing opportunity for over 800 exhibitors from 63 countries to bring their work into the limelight. This event is organised by KITAB, a joint venture between the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage and the Frankfurt Book Fair. Every year the organisers try to introduce more international exhibits in order to gain the interest of more people from around the world. Due to the fair’s successful growth, the ADIBF has become the focal point not just for the Arab market but for the worldwide book market as well.

Abu Dhabi Salsa Festival

The Abu Dhabi Salsa Festival held at The Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, offers three nights of spectacular Latin dance and music shows. The festival brings together some awesome performances from the finest Latin dancers and musicians from the world.

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship ( Visit Site )

Abu Dhabi Golf Championship is a European Tour golf tournament that was launched in 2006 and in the following years has become very popular. Today, it is recognized as one of the biggest events on the European Tour and in turn, helping build Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a world-class golf tourism destination. The Abu Dhabi Golf Championship is staged at the world-class Abu Dhabi Golf Club, Sheraton, an award-winning facility featuring 27 holes, including the 18-hole National Course. This competition is a part of the trio of European Tour events in the Gulf States including Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters. It has a $2.7 million prize fund sponsored by HSBC and the 2012 event boasted a record number of 82,000 golfing fans attending the sporting spectacle. Englishman, Jamie Donaldson won the 2013 event.

The Emirates Photography Competition ( Visit Site )

Held under the patronage of International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) and Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), Emirates Photography Competition is an annual event organized to encourage the art of photography in the Emirates. The ADACH provides a platform for the talented young photographers to explore their creative side and bring a refreshing new approach to photography.

Red Bull Air Race World Series ( Visit Site )

The Red Bull Air race series is an international competition of air races that is arranged in ten cities across the world. Abu Dhabi is one of the centres of this competition. Fearless pilots enthral the visitors by whizzing their planes at speeds of up to 400 km/h through low-level inflatable "air gates".

This event was launched with the support from HH Sheikh Hazza Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The first round of the Air Race is held in Abu Dhabi city, with the rest of the seven rounds held in other cities of the world. The 2011, 2012 and 2013 series have been cancelled but the Red Bull series is looking for a potential return in 2014.