A dessert museum, an Instagrammable cafe and performances by Egyptian superstar Sherine Abdel Wahab and British singer-songwriter Craig David are among the things to look forward to at the Mother of the Nation (MOTN) festival.
The annual event, now in its fifth year, is organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. It is taking place until December 18 at the Corniche, transforming the city’s coastline into a vibrant cultural and entertainment destination.
The event promises to provide plenty of photo opportunities, family fun and live performances across its six themed zones, which include Inspire Space, Thrill Zone, Food Hub, Music Arena, Shopping District and Amusement Park.
Inspire Space
One of the key highlights of the festival will be the Inspire Space.
It will feature a series of picturesque rooms designed by various artists living in the UAE. The rooms trace the country’s 50-year journey since its foundation.
The zone will also feature the Dessert Museum, dedicated to sweets and confectionaries; the MOTN Funhouse, a special section celebrating manga and cosplayers; and Glow Sushi Bar by Bompas & Parr in collaboration with Akiba Dori.
Music Arena
MOTN’s Music Arena will welcome globally and regionally renowned stars to its main stage, with an exhilarating line-up all set for the opening weekend. Headlining the festival is the Egyptian superstar Sherine, who will be performing on Friday, December 10.
British singer Craig David and Jordanian TikTok sensation Issam Alnajjar will perform on Friday and Saturday to close out the event.
Australian rapper The Kid Laroi, who was set to perform during the closing weekend, will no longer appear.
Kuwaiti boy band Miami Band will also perform live on Thursday, December 9, with Iraqi Qalb Qalb singer Mohamed Alsalim as the opening act.
Iraqi pop star Mahmoud Al Turky will also take to the stage on Saturday, December 18, alongside ‘Haba Haba’ artist Khaled Fouad.
Tickets for the concerts are now on sale, with prices starting from Dh75.
Amusement Park
This zone will host the World of Nickelodeon, which includes characters from the popular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Paw Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and more.
The eye-catching zone houses a series of fun activities such as Diggers Lab, a children’s play park, exciting carnival rides and other games.
Food Hub
Find globally recognised outlets such as Burger & Beyond and Matcha Mama from Tulum here.
South African artist Daniel Popper is also curating a one-of-a-kind installation in this zone. The larger-than-life art piece is titled Nurture, and symbolises the importance of self-nurturing and the human relationship with Mother Earth. Popper is known for his figurative sculptures and magnificent public art installations, which have grabbed attention around the world, including at the Burning Man and Tulum festivals.
Visitors will also be treated to tunes from local entertainers including Alaa Wardi, Aleksandra Krstic, Carl & The Reda Mafia, DJ Bliss and DJ Keza.
Shopping District
Here, Beach Market will feature local favourites, while Bo-tik is a pavilion for luxury brands. The zone will feature items from several recognisable brands, including Rula Galayini, Sarah’s Bag and sustainable fashion from Riot, with pre-loved pieces by Balmain, Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, among others.
The Shopping District will also feature EL&N London, reputed to be the world’s most Instagrammable cafe, in the UAE for the first time.
Thrill Zone
This zone will feature the famous Rick & Morty Laser Tag, a skate and parkour park, the Smash Room, a horror escape room, a gaming hub and more.
Covid-19 safety rules
The festival will run in line with the Go Safe Certification, a programme launched by DCT Abu Dhabi that enforces global standards of safety and cleanliness at hotels, events, attractions and venues across the emirate.
Where to find tickets
Tickets to the festival are available for purchase online and start at Dh25 for general admission. Concert tickets start at Dh75 for the Miami Band with opening act Mohamed Alsalim and Dh125 for a silver pass for the Sherine performance. Tickets will cost more if visitors buy them at the door.
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
The%20US%20Congress%2C%20explained
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heading
Iran has sent five planeloads of food to Qatar, which is suffering shortages amid a regional blockade.
A number of nations, including Iran's major rival Saudi Arabia, last week cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of funding terrorism, charges it denies.
The land border with Saudi Arabia, through which 40% of Qatar's food comes, has been closed.
Meanwhile, mediators Kuwait said that Qatar was ready to listen to the "qualms" of its neighbours.
Monster
Directed by: Anthony Mandler
Starring: Kelvin Harrison Jr., John David Washington
3/5
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
UAE%20Warriors%2045%20Results
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