
Abu Dhabi selected as global host for 2025 International Jazz Day celebrations
That's right, Abu Dhabi was selected by UNESCO to host the 2025 edition of International Jazz Day celebrations.
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), along with the UN body, is pulling out all the stops to present the event together this year.
Mark your calendar for Wednesday April 30, when the Etihad Arena will transform for the All-Star Global Concert.
Registration is free, so if you've never experienced live jazz on this scale, this has to be on your to-do list.
The lineup features a brilliant mix of jazz, blues, classical and hip-hop artists from across the globe – think Herbie Hancock, Dianne Reeves, John McLaughlin, Dee Dee Bridgewater and a host of others.
Local talent like Arqam Al Abri will also make an appearance, so you'll get a good dose of homegrown vibes alongside international heavyweights.
Organised by DCT Abu Dhabi in collaboration with UNESCO and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, the five-week-long celebrations will run throughout the city from April to May.
Expect performances, educational programmes, and community events that share jazz as a cultural movement.
And if you can't make it to the Etihad Arena in person, you can still watch the concert streamed live to millions around the world via UNTV, UNESCO, jazzday.com, Facebook, YouTube and other major platforms.
So no matter where you are, the groove will find you.
Get concert passes here: etihadarena.ae
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The National
27 minutes ago
- The National
How the UAE's seven emirates got their names – and what they mean
A gazelle leading settlers to water, palm fronds dotting coastlines - some of the names behind the UAE 's seven emirates draw on the country's landscape, commerce and cosmopolitan heritage. While some of the titles are not officially documented and come from history and local tradition, they reveal the tapestry of life and experiences and the connection between human activity and geography that shaped each emirate before they became a dynamic federation. Here are the stories behind the names of all seven emirates. Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi 's name is linked to the emirate's founding story. According to Visit Abu Dhabi, the name stems from how early settlers followed a gazelle to fresh water on the island. The name derives from Arabic toponyms, with Abu being an associative word rather than the literal meaning of father, and zaby (gazelle) for the animal, creating "father of the gazelle". Beyond its geographical roots, Abu Dhabi's name cements the emirate's cultural heritage: from a land where wildlife once guaranteed survival to one that has grown with the swiftness and grace of its namesake. Dubai Historical records cited by Visit Dubai show the earliest mention of the emirate in a geography text from 1095, followed by later references in pearl merchant records as "Dibei," while British historical accounts described the city as "Al Wasl". Popular theories describe Dubai stemming from the word daba, meaning "to creep" or "to flow slowly," perhaps referencing the movement of vessels in Dubai Creek, while other local traditions suggest the name connects to a historical souq once operating in the area. In many ways it doesn't matter – that confluence of stories and tapestry of human experience befits the cosmopolitan nature of the emirate. Sharjah The emirate's name derives from the trilateral root letters shin-ra-qaf, which in Arabic carries meanings related to the east, sunrise and rising. While often linked in popular accounts to an 'eastern' location, official sources and local reports link Sharjah 's name to poetic descriptions as a place of culture and inspiration. Ajman The name comes from the Arabic word Ajam, used historically to refer to foreigners – those who spoke in an "unclear tongue" or non-Arabs. While a direct origin of the emirate is unclear, Ali Al Matrooshi, former director of Ajman Museum, wrote in a 2005 column for Emirati newspaper Al Bayan citing old Emirati traditions that said Ajman 's name was initially in reference to the "Persian traders" formerly residing in the emirate's ports. While the contemporary usage of the word Ajam has evolved, the emirate's name seems to stem from a particular time of its early settlement. Ras Al Khaimah Meaning "head of the tent," Ras Al Khaimah 's name comes from a direct translation from classical Arabic. Another common interpretation links it to the emirate's geographic position as the northern point of the tent-shaped UAE. But historians say the name goes deeper than its founding, with ras referring to the peninsula forming the emirate while khaimah (tent) alluded to tightly-knit palm frond houses dotting the land between the sea and the creek. Umm Al Quwain According to the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism, the name derives from a phrase referring to its "two powers," in reference to its mastery of both land and water. The geography aligns with the meaning, with Umm Al Quwain home to archaeological sites and Al Sinniyah Island, one of the UAE's largest islands and a natural reserve for migratory birds during its relatively warm winters. Fujairah No official meaning exists, but according to Al Matrooshi, the name is linked to the words "mafjar" or "fajrah," meaning a "water springs that gush forth from under the mountains there," he wrote. The meaning is also backed by the emirate 's standing as the only UAE emirate with a coastline solely on the Gulf of Oman.


UAE Moments
9 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Abu Dhabi Extends Darb Toll Hours, Scraps Fee Limits
Big change for Abu Dhabi drivers — the Darb toll system is getting a shake-up starting Monday, September 1. The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has announced longer evening toll hours and the end of daily and monthly fee caps. Longer Evening Charges Currently, drivers only get charged in the evening from 5pm to 7pm. From September, that window will stretch from 3pm to 7pm, Monday through Saturday. Morning hours stay the same. Sundays and official public holidays? Still free. No More Caps Say goodbye to the Dh16 daily cap and monthly limits. Instead, every pass through a gate will now cost Dh4 — no matter how many times you cross. That means more trips could mean a bigger bill. Exemptions Still Apply People of Determination, low-income families, senior citizens, and retirees will still get their toll exemptions. Why the Change? The ITC says the move aims to keep traffic flowing and ease congestion during peak hours. Darb, launched in 2021, runs eight toll gates on the main bridges in and out of Abu Dhabi.


UAE Moments
11 hours ago
- UAE Moments
Abu Dhabi's Giant Sphere Ready to Rise as Preconstruction Wraps
The world's biggest spherical entertainment venue is making its way to Abu Dhabi — and it's almost go-time. The preconstruction phase for Sphere Abu Dhabi is nearly done, according to Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan. This will be the second Sphere after the Las Vegas original, which wowed the world with its massive 16K wraparound screens and 20,000-seat capacity. Big Tech, Big Plans Sphere Abu Dhabi promises the same jaw-dropping immersive experience — from concerts and screenings to original productions like Darren Aronofsky's Postcards from Earth. The exact location and opening date are still under wraps, but the project has a 10-year franchise deal granting exclusive rights to build more Spheres across the Middle East and North Africa. A Global Network in the Making The Abu Dhabi Sphere is part of the brand's bigger vision — a network of massive and mini Spheres around the world. Smaller venues seating about 5,000 could be built faster and at lower cost, while still delivering the same visual spectacle.