Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and with the oversight of His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the UAE and Head of the Presidential Court, the Supreme Committee for the Sheikh Zayed Festival has announced the launch of the “Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival 2026.” This event will take place in Al Wathba, Abu Dhabi, from July 6 to August 23, operating daily from 10 AM to 10 PM. This initiative aims to provide a comprehensive summer experience focused on developing the skills of students and youth, enhancing cultural and national identity, and promoting concepts of innovation and artificial intelligence, all within a safe and stimulating educational and recreational environment. This festival is held in strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Department of Education and Knowledge in Abu Dhabi.
Target Audience and Goals
The festival targets children and youth aged 6 to 18, as well as families and visitors of all ages, offering a summer experience that redefines summer vacation as a space for learning, skill acquisition, talent discovery, and the promotion of national and social values. The “Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival 2026” represents a unique, integrated summer experience within the UAE and the region, embodying a modern vision that transforms summer breaks into a platform combining education, entertainment, sports, culture, and innovation, contributing to the development of a knowledgeable generation equipped with future skills.
Strategic Partnerships
The festival boasts strategic partnerships with several leading national institutions, underscoring the project’s magnitude and its social and developmental objectives. This collaboration includes the Ministry of Education and the Department of Education and Knowledge—Abu Dhabi, along with other key partners to be announced later. This collaborative model enhances the educational and social value of the festival.
Program Overview
The summer program is built around four main pillars: educational, community, heritage, and health and sports, ensuring diverse content that meets the varying needs of different age groups. It provides a balanced experience that combines knowledge, entertainment, and skill development. In the educational domain, the festival offers a variety of programs aligned with the aspirations of today’s youth, focusing on technology and innovation through specialized workshops in artificial intelligence, modern technologies, programming, and digital innovation in partnership with specialized educational and academic institutions. This will help familiarize participants with future skills and enhance their abilities in modern technology and knowledge fields.
Health and Community Initiatives
The festival also places a significant emphasis on health and sports, allocating ample space for physical activities and awareness campaigns through athletic programs and events that promote healthy lifestyles. Furthermore, it includes interactive activities designed for youth and children to enhance physical fitness, health awareness, and a culture of activity and vitality.
On the community front, the festival offers a series of interactive and awareness programs that reinforce concepts of community safety, security, and responsibility through specialized initiatives in collaboration with competent authorities. These include digital security awareness, general safety concepts, emergency responses, and first aid training, contributing to building positive community awareness among children and youth.
Cultural Heritage and Environmental Awareness
Cultural heritage has a prominent presence in the program through interactive events that shed light on the authentic Emirati heritage, educating participants about the traditions and values of Emirati society. Practical workshops and heritage experiences aim to enhance national identity and strengthen the connection with local cultural heritage.
The festival will also feature events focused on sustainability and environmental awareness through interactive programs that foster concepts of recycling, responsible consumption, and environmental conservation, aligning with national trends towards sustainability and building a community that is more aware of environmental issues.
Additionally, the program includes various activities in creativity and daily life, including culinary arts workshops, practical experiments, and interactive family activities. Daily entertainment events and modern spaces designed to host technical and creative activities ensure a refreshing and integrated experience for visitors throughout the festival duration.
As part of the “Year of the Family,” the festival pays special attention to enhancing the family’s role as a key partner in the experience by designing programs that encourage family participation and collective interaction, thereby strengthening familial bonds and allowing families to benefit collectively from diverse content that blends learning and entertainment.
The accompanying events include community and seasonal programs dedicated to families and students, such as the Al Wathba Date Festival, the Family Business Festival, and the Back to School Festival, along with supportive initiatives for the school year return, shopping experiences, and services related to preparing for the academic year, adding a practical and community-oriented aspect to the overall experience.
The “Sheikh Zayed Summer Festival 2026” reflects a modern vision of summer events founded on the integration of education, entertainment, culture, and community, contributing to the reinforcement of national identity and the establishment of values of innovation and sustainability—a continuation of the UAE’s commitment to investing in its people and shaping the future.