“Bahrain is a heart and an eye”.. Sheikh Zayed Festival celebrates the National Day of the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain

Under the slogan “Bahrain, Heart and Eyes,” the Sheikh Zayed Festival celebrated the National Day of the sisterly Kingdom of Bahrain through a special celebratory program held at the festival site in the Al Wathba area in Abu Dhabi, which embodied the depth of the fraternal and social ties that bring together the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The celebration was attended by Ambassador Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah bin Ali Al Khalifa, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the State, and at the head of his recipients and the delegation accompanying him was Humaid Saeed Al Neyadi, Director of the Office of the Head of the Presidential Office and Vice Chairman of the Supreme Committee of the Festival, and a number of officials.

The celebration program included official ceremonies that included playing the national anthems of the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain with the flag salute, in the presence of guests from the Bahraini community and a number of invitees and visitors, while the festival grounds witnessed popular performances presented by Emirati and Bahraini heritage bands that reflected the diversity of Gulf folk arts and contributed to giving an authentic heritage character to the atmosphere of the occasion, in addition to decorating the festival facilities and lighting in the colors of the two countries’ flags and lighting the Emirates Fountain with special festive designs for the occasion.

The festive day included an integrated program that began with welcoming the audience, where welcoming Bahraini and Gulf national music filled the air, with the distribution of Emirati and Bahraini flags to the visitors. Then a short visual presentation was presented documenting the depth of Emirati-Bahraini relations, followed by a program of joint heritage segments in the festival grounds, which included a performance by the traditional girls’ band, then performances by popular Emirati bands, including Al-Harbiyah and Al-Ayyala, followed by performances by Bahraini popular bands, in a Gulf panel that brought together authentic arts. It highlighted the cultural closeness between the two peoples.

In parallel, digital screens were activated at the festival’s entrances and squares to display congratulatory messages and visual content related to the occasion, in addition to Emirates Fountain performances accompanied by Bahraini songs and an accompanying music program, as part of an interactive festive experience that witnessed a wide attendance and remarkable interaction from the audience.

The daily activities of the festival continued with their special festive character through roaming performances in the squares, pavilion theater performances, and interactive activities in the heritage village, in addition to lighting and laser programs, so that the celebration included the various areas of the festival.

The activities culminated in a concert on the main stage by Bahraini artist Hanan Reda and Emirati artist Aida Al Menhali, amid wide interaction from the audience.

The festival management provided special benefits to visitors to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the public throughout the celebration, which included free parking for the VIP category, free entry to the festival, double value for toy packages, free entry to Children’s Kingdom in Wonderland, a free visit to the Dinosaur Park, free entry to the Al Nawader Reserve, in addition to free games and events, and free entry to the skating rink.

Celebratory shawls and flags of the Kingdom of Bahrain were also distributed free of charge to the public, as part of a comprehensive festive experience that enhanced visitors’ participation.

This celebration confirms the role of the Sheikh Zayed Festival as a social and cultural platform that celebrates Gulf events and contributes to enhancing rapprochement between societies and consolidating the bonds of brotherhood and love between the two brotherly peoples and their wise leaders in the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain.