Manar Abu Dhabi 2025 makes its grand return this November, transforming the emirate’s natural and urban landscapes into a radiant open-air gallery. From the mangroves of Jubail Island to the ancient oases of Al Ain, the exhibition will showcase stunning light installations and large-scale art.
Organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), this second edition brings together 15 artists and collectives from 10 different countries under the theme “The Light Compass,” delving into how light has historically guided both physical and spiritual human journeys.
For the first time, the exhibition will extend to Al Ain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where eight installations will illuminate the Al Qattara and Al Jimi Oasis Trails. Visitors will encounter new works by Emirati artists Maitha Hamdan, Ammar Al Attar, and designer Khalid Shafar, whose creations engage with the heritage and natural environment of these historical oases.
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At Souq Al Mina, global art icon KAWS will debut a luminous COMPANION sculpture—a reclining figure holding a glowing moon—marking his first major work in the UAE. This monumental piece, fresh from Shanghai, will be set against Abu Dhabi’s city skyline, creating a contemporary scene intertwined with maritime heritage.
This year, five Emirati artists take center stage, joining an international roster that includes the Dutch collective DRIFT, Montreal-based studio Iregular, Spanish digital artist Six N. Five, and Malaysian sculptor Pamela Poh.
“Manar Abu Dhabi continues to champion the dialogue between Emirati creativity and global innovation,” said Artistic Director Khai Hori.
On Jubail Island, Dutch studio DRIFT offers immersive experiences where visitors’ biometric data transforms into digital flowers and soundscapes inside a dome-like structure. Outside, hundreds of choreographed drones will dance across the island’s mangroves in synchronized motion, symbolizing growth and renewal against the natural backdrop.
Emirati sculptor Shaikha Al Mazrou presents a 30-meter circular installation that evolves as water crystallizes into salt, creating an ephemeral landmark among the mangroves. Her work explores material transformation and the visual patterns of natural processes.
In Al Ain’s lush Jimi Oasis, Maitha Hamdan’s sensor-activated light ropes cascade from a six-meter acacia tree, responding to visitors’ movements to harmonize technology with the environment. Nearby, Ammar Al Attar transforms a historic courtyard with photographic self-portraits captured while cycling in circles, displayed in lightboxes as a meditative performance connecting body, space, and time.
Khalid Shafar reimagines traditional Sadu weaving—listed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list—into a 70-meter light and brick pattern stretching through a historic building along the Al Qattara Oasis Trail.
Canadian-Mexican artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer returns to Manar Abu Dhabi, showcasing poems by contemporary Emirati poets Nujoom Alghanem, Khalid Albudoor, and Adel Khozam as slow streams of letters along the trail, accompanied by a light canopy pulsating with visitors’ heartbeats.
The exhibition highlights accessible public art experiences across Abu Dhabi’s varied landscapes. As part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s Public Art initiative, Manar aims to enrich the emirate’s cultural fabric while fostering creativity through large-scale installations that engage both residents and visitors.
Manar Abu Dhabi runs from November 1, 2025, to January 4, 2026, in Al Ain, and November 15, 2025, to January 4, 2026, in Abu Dhabi. Admission is free, with additional talks, performances, and workshops to be announced soon.
