Umm Al Emarat Park makes Ramadan nights unforgettable for families
21 Mar 2025 01:35
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)Umm Al Emarat Park, a community hub in the heart of Abu Dhabi, has come to life with a series of events as part of "Ramadan Nights at the Park", an initiative that seeks to foster togetherness during the Holy Month.Reflecting the ethos of the Year of Community, the month-long festival focuses on strengthening bonds, enriching cultures, social impact, and environmental awareness. Overall, it aims to create a more memorable experience for the community."In Ramadan 2025, Umm Al Emarat Park has introduced several new initiatives that further enhance the community experience, making this year's edition more immersive and impactful than ever," said Rasha Kablawi, Group Communications Director at Sinyar Holding, the official spokesperson for Umm Al Emarat Park. Encapsulating the spirit of Ramadan, the festival features the iftar cannon tradition, which signals the end of the day's fast. The Emirates Red Crescent then distributes "Kisr Al-Siyam" iftar boxes to those in need.The park's Ramadan Garden offers a picturesque backdrop for visitors to enjoy iftar and suhoor. The stunning venue is open for iftar from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and for suhoor from 10pm to 1am.During the weekend, Umm Al Emarat Park bustles with the Ramadan Pop-up Market, held on Fridays and Saturdays from 8pm to 1am at the Great Lawn – Park Market Area, featuring local vendors and food stalls.Plenty of Ramadan-themed activities are in store for children, from Hakawati (storytelling) to lantern-making workshops, among others.A curated Ramadan Picnic Basket - packed with sandwiches, dates, snacks, and juices - completes the unforgettable experience.Furthermore, the park hosts fitness and well-being sessions, such as yoga, meditation, sound healing and mindfulness at the Evening Garden.
"Each of these initiatives aligns with the UAE's Year of Community, reinforcing the park's role as a hub for cultural, social, and wellness-driven experiences during Ramadan," Kablawi told Aletihad . She highlighted the park's collaborative initiatives with the Emirates Red Crescent and partnerships with the Tadweer Group on their "Naqa'a" Ramadan campaign, which connects the core values of the Holy Month with sustainability. Among the campaign's key highlights are activities that encourage the public to get involved in promoting the
3Rs (reduce, reuse and recycle)."Umm Al Emarat Park creates a warm and inclusive environment where families and children can celebrate the essence of Ramadan together, blending culture, entertainment, and community engagement in a picturesque outdoor setting," Kablawi added.
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Families and individuals alike enjoyed engaging experiences, from cultural events to outdoor wellness sessions, that left lasting Park also continued to play a vital educational role, raising awareness around conservation and the environment through workshops, guided tours and partnerships with sustainability-focused on the success of the season, Rasha Kablawi, official spokesperson for Umm Al Emarat Park, said, 'As we conclude another exciting season at the Park, we want to thank our visitors, staff, partners and community for their continued support and enthusiasm. We remain committed to our vision of creating a vibrant space where families and communities can connect, explore, and enrich their experiences and create moments to treasure. This season's mission to bring people together, encourage cultural exchange and promote sustainable living truly came to life.'She added, 'Together, we continue to nurture an inclusive, vibrant and nature-filled destination for all and look forward to welcoming everyone back next season for more fun and adventure.'The Park also hosted 59 community events and delivered 50 educational packages to over 3,300 students, promoting lifelong learning. The Park Market returned for the fourth consecutive year with 164 vendors offering artisan goods, food trucks and more, attracting families with over 7,000 giveaways and 510 child and family-focused activities – a 59% increase from the Park Market's previous year. Live performances, sports and fitness activities and wellness sessions established the Park Market as a top weekend events like the Forbes 30 under 30 summit, The RAGE, Miami Vibes and The Cove brought a modern, engaging energy to the Park, featuring food trucks, retail experiences, and interactive activities. These vibrant gatherings not only united the community but also highlighted the Park's ongoing support for local Al Emarat Park's 2024-2025 season was powered by valuable partnerships that amplified its community impact. Notable collaborations included the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), which brought back the beloved Festival in the Park, attracting over 4,000 attendees. The Early Childhood Fair, hosted in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority, welcomed 28,000 visitors, providing a rich platform for learning and Park also worked closely with Emirates Red Crescent during Ramadan, distributing 1,500 community iftar boxes and organising a special iftar at Ramadan Garden for 180 orphans. The Park also partnered with the American Center to host an Autism Awareness event, bringing together more than 150 participants for an engaging and informative day dedicated to fostering understanding and Al Emarat Park continues to serve as a platform for immersive cultural and artistic experiences across Abu Dhabi. This season, the Park supported the inaugural Public Art Abu Dhabi Biennale by hosting acclaimed artist Kabir Mohanty's installation at its iconic Shade House, inviting visitors to reflect on space, sound and sensory interaction in a natural season also saw prestigious brand collaborations including Tiffany & Co. and Roger Vivier, further cementing the Park's position as a premium destination for brand expression and experiential storytelling. These elegant partnerships reflect Umm Al Emarat Park's unique appeal as a vibrant, nature-filled space where global luxury brands can engage meaningfully with diverse part of its ongoing efforts to promote community wellbeing, Umm Al Emarat Park partnered with Celestial Karisma to host a series of wellness sessions designed to promote mindfulness and relaxation in nature. Held at the Park's Evening and Botanical Gardens, the programme featured calming Sound Healing sessions and peaceful Mindful Morning gatherings. These sessions also offered free community events that marked key occasions including Pink October and International Women's Day, creating meaningful moments of reflection and connection and reinforcing Park's role as a sanctuary for rejuvenation and community a champion of sustainable living, Umm Al Emarat Park's embrace of the UAE Environment Vision 2030 saw a season-long commitment to conservation and education. The Park hosted six sustainability workshops, helping to educate visitors about the impact of their actions and encouraging a positive environmental partnership with Tadweer Group, the Park collected 6,411 aluminum cans and plastic bottles through on-site Reverse Vending Machines. The collaboration with A1R to Water led to the installation of five atmospheric water generation machines across iconic park locations, producing over 11,000 litres of water – preventing the use of 22,014 single-use plastic bottles and 1.81 tonnes of carbon Day was marked with gardening workshops and awareness activities that engaged over 50 visitors, while educational programmes and guided tours raised awareness around the importance of conservation. The Park's Animal Barn welcomed new residents, including the Arabian Oryx, and conducted over 250,000 activities designed to foster empathy and curiosity while connecting children gently with its commitment to sustainability and creative expression, the Park, through a collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation, also hosted the Datecrete Bee Hotel, the winning artwork of the 2024 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Award. Crafted from eco-friendly material made of date pits and free from traditional concrete, the installation was designed to attract solitary bees and encourage ecological line with the UAE's core values of openness, respect and peaceful coexistence, Umm Al Emarat Park inaugurated the 'Gardens of Tolerance' and celebrated cultural diversity through a series of events representing various nationalities. The Park hosted community gatherings showcasing Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Ukrainian cultures, featuring music, food and traditional activities to encourage cross-cultural 3,000 attendees experienced the Ramadan Iftar Garden, an open-air communal iftar under the stars, accompanied by traditional oud performances. The Iftar Cannon ceremony at the Park's main entrance served as a symbolic focal point for communal gatherings during Ramadan, further promoting unity and reflection. 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