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Illustration by Al Yazia Alblooshi

What’s On in the City: 7 Cool Festivals Happening in the UAE in the Upcoming Month

Check out all the exciting things you and your friends can do in the UAE this March.

Feb 29, 2020

The end of February and the month of March usher in a plethora of new events and festivals happening in Abu Dhabi and in the surrounding Emirates. Whether you’re into art, music or nature, there are events catering to everyone’s interests happening in the UAE in the upcoming weeks.
Sir Bani Yas Kite Festival
Sir Bani Yas, a natural island that lies south of Abu Dhabi, is home to the region’s largest wildlife park, which was founded by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Here, thousands of giraffes, gazelles and other grassland creatures wander free. Finding ways to visit the incredible Sir Bani Yas Island on a student budget can be an incredibly difficult task, but on March 7, the Sir Bani Yas Kite Festival returns, offering great options for one-day visits to this incredible place. Tickets cost 300 AED and include the price of the ferry from Jebel Dhanna Jetty, transportation on the island, a kit to make your own kite to fly on the island’s beach, barbecue lunch on the beach, a wildlife safari drive and free kayaking, archery and biking. Getting to Jebel Dhanna Jetty can be difficult, but you can take public bus routes until you get to Al Ruwais ADNOC station, from which the port is only a 20 minute taxi ride away.
Art Dubai and SIKKA Art Festival
Taking place simultaneously throughout March, these two festivals place Dubai on the center stage of the global art scene. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the open-air SIKKA Art Festival will be taking place from March 19 to 29, in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood of Dubai. Consisting of performances, art exhibitions, films and interactive workshops centered around the theme of ‘Dreamers’, this free festival is not to be missed. Likewise, the Art Dubai Festival, a leading international art show focusing on the MENASA region will take place from March 25 to 28. Taking place at Madinat Jumeirah, tickets are free for students who show their student ID at the entrance.
Ultra Festival
The famous Electronic Dance Music festival Ultra is coming to Abu Dhabi on March 5 and 6. With some of the biggest names in EDM music taking the stage, this festival is not to be missed by fans of this genre. Tickets are quite expensive, but looking at ticket resale sites may reveal some great last-minute deals.
Club Social Festival
While Ultra Festival brings EDM music to Abu Dhabi, Club Social is bringing two days of Indie music and Coachella-like vibes. Taking place from March 12 to 14 at Yas Links on Yas Island, this event tags itself as the “ultimate feel-good music festival” and as “Abu Dhabi’s most Instagrammable Event”. Tickets can be found here.
Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival
If you plan to venture to the northern Emirates, be sure to check out the Ras Al Khaimah Fine Arts Festival, open until March 31. Taking place in Al Jazirah Al Hamra Heritage Village in Ras Al Khaimah, this free festival includes exhibitions from artists from over 30 countries. Find out more about the schedule here. The festival can be accessed using the new public bus route from Abu Dhabi to Ras Al Khaimah. The bus has limited timings and would require an overnight stay, but it is still a good option for those who would like to visit the Emirate on a budget.
Middle Eastern Film & Comic Con From March 5 to 7, the largest Film and Comic Con in the Middle East is coming to Dubai. For all those interested in comics, anime and more, this is the perfect place to meet industry celebrities and other like-minded fans. The tickets cost 115 AED each, but there is a buy-four-for-the-price-of-three deal if you attend with friends and purchase the family ticket.
Joelle Bohringer is a Columnist. Email her at feedback@thegazelle.org.
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