Manar Abu Dhabi 2025: A Celebration of Light Across the City

Manar Abu Dhabi is an art initiative that brings light, creativity, and culture to the public. Created under the Public Art Abu Dhabi program by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), it invites both residents and visitors to explore artworks that use light as a powerful artistic tool. The name Manar, which means “lighthouse” in Arabic, reflects the project’s mission: guiding people toward new artistic experiences.

The festival showcases new commissions, site-specific light sculptures, immersive installations, and large-scale projections created by local and international artists. It aims to show how light can transform public spaces and create new ways of experiencing the city.

The Second Edition: ‘The Light Compass’

The second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi will take place from 15 November 2025 to 4 January 2026. This year, the theme “The Light Compass” explores how light can guide movement, emotion, and imagination.

More than 23 new artworks will be presented, created especially for Abu Dhabi’s natural and urban landscapes, including archipelagos, mangroves, and oases.
The curatorial team includes:

• Khai Hori, Artistic Director

• Alia Zaal Lootah, Curator

• Munira Al Sayegh, Curator

• Mariam Alshehhi, Assistant Curator

This edition expands beyond previous years, with the festival spreading across Jubail Island, Al Ain, and several other locations in the city.

Main Locations and Highlights

1. Jubail Island: The Center of the Festival

Jubail Island becomes the main location for Manar Abu Dhabi 2025, turning its sand paths, mangroves, and open spaces into an outdoor gallery. Visitors can walk through the landscape and discover light artworks that change with the environment.

The island features major works such as EDEN by Pamela Poh and three installations by DRIFT—UNFOLD, WHISPERS, and WIND OF CHANGE—which use light and natural movement. Emirati artist Shaikha Al Mazrou presents CONTINGENT OBJECT (2025), adding a bold sculptural element to the site.

Interactive installations by Iregular—AS WATER FALLS, FACES, CONTROL NO CONTROL, and FORTUNES—invite visitors to engage directly with light and motion. Additional artworks by Six N. Five, Christian Brinkmann, Kirsten Berg, Encor Studio, and Lachlan Turczan complete the island experience. Turczan’s laser-lit Gateway creates a glowing pathway through the natural landscape.

2. Al Qattara Oasis Trail

Al Qattara Oasis Trail highlights artworks inspired by heritage and nature. The quiet environment of the oasis allows each piece to respond to its surroundings in a subtle, meaningful way.

Featured works include TRANSLATION STREAM (2023) and PULSE CANOPY (2025) by Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, which use light and interactive elements. SADU RED CARPET (2025) by Khalid Shafar reinterprets the traditional Sadu weaving craft through a contemporary light installation.

3. Al Jimi Oasis Trail

The Jimi Oasis Trail, known for its dense palm trees, offers a calm setting for installations that explore memory, rhythm, and texture. The artworks blend naturally with the shaded landscape.

Featured pieces include CYCLE OF CIRCLES (2025) by Ammar Al Attar, BREATH OF THE SAME PLACE (2025) by Maitha Hamdan, and GUIDING DRAPES (2025) by Abdulla Al Mulla. FLORAL RESONANCE (2024) by Christian Brinkmann adds an interactive audiovisual experience.

4. Souq Al Mina

At Mina Zayed (Zayed Port), the festival presents KAWS: HOLIDAY Abu Dhabi. The installation features KAWS’s iconic COMPANION figure, illuminated and reclining while holding a glowing moon. Set against the city skyline, it becomes one of the festival’s most striking visual moments.

An Open-Air Gallery of Light

As the festival begins, Jubail Island transforms into a glowing landscape. The pathways, mangroves, and waterfront areas shine with artworks made from lasers, mirrors, steel, glass, and fiber optics. Each installation reacts to the surroundings — the movement of wind, reflections on water, and sounds of nature — giving visitors a different experience with every step.

Manar Abu Dhabi continues to grow as one of the region’s leading public art events. With its focus on light, nature, and creative expression, the festival invites everyone to explore, experience, and enjoy art in a new way. To visit Manar Abu Dhabi, you can check here for more information.