Inspired by the great outdoors and the season of blooms, the DAZ Festival (formerly known as the Dar Al Zain Festival) returns to Al Ain with a new nature-inspired theme and an action-packed programme of authentic family-friendly entertainment and mouth-watering cuisines from around the world, taking place from 10 – 19 February at Al Jahili Park.
Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the event will be a celebration of life and nature, offering exciting and inspiring experiences for residents and visitors alike. Held during the breezy spring season, with the historic Al Jahili Fort as a backdrop, the DAZ Festival invites visitors to enjoy traditional fairgrounds treats and global cuisine, sway to beats by regional music stars, try classic carnival rides, explore the giant oasis artpark and indulge in retail therapy.
Transformative Art Installations
Get drawn into the harmony of technology and art with the eye-catching art installation ‘Pyramid Sphere’. Making its UAE debut at the festival, the installation features repeated geometric shapes that expand to form pyramids. Visitors can enter the sphere through a tunnel and view the outside world through windows. With no clear entrance or exit, the installation is meant to engage the public by getting them to question their built environment.
Kaleidoscopic Moments
Create memories and plenty of Instagrammable moments at the electrifying and immersive Dazzle Haus. Visitors can navigate the wonders of nature across five rooms featuring caves, avatar-like plants, creatures and an underwater world. Each room in this space is inspired by the Earth, setting the mood and vibe of your colourful, unexpected journey.
Soulful Food
From local to global, foodies can go on a tasting tour of the world at the DAZ Festival. Bringing the wow factor all the way from the UK will be Saint Aymes, the original London Instagrammable café. Take a sip of their signature coffee drinks and satisfy your sweet tooth with their popular desserts and lip-smacking milkshakes in the café’s cozy purple pop-up inspired by Al Ain. Also appearing at the festival will be enticing street food concepts such as Nap Pizzeria from Dubai, crowd favourite Let’s Popcorn, and cult Boba tea brand Tiger Sugar.
Local Shopping Experiences
The festival’s DAZ Market will be a one-stop shop for trending local and regional brands with everything from fashion, accessories, and home décor to fragrance and beauty. The market will feature special pods focusing on Emirati culture and heritage, where visitors will be able to participate in cultural workshops, handmade crafts and so much more.
Family Activities
Celebrating all things in nature, the Jungle Escape Room will bring family and friends together for an adventure at the festival. They can challenge their awareness of the environment, survival skills and knowledge as they find clues that will help them escape the jungle before time runs out.
Versus, the popular collaborative virtual reality game, comes to Al Ain, giving participants an opportunity to dive into the ancient Egyptian underworld and apply their archery skills to win the challenge.
Fun and Play
Mimicking a forest, the Children’s Play Park will make young ones fall in love with nature. Filled with adventure, fun, slides and swings, children can be kept entertained and active for hours in the wooden play park.
The Oasis Play Park at the festival will invite visitors to explore artistic and Instagrammable playgrounds. Bringing a whimsical twist to the outdoors, the park will have interactive and colourful animal sculptures that double as slides, carousels and seesaws.
Visitors can also tap into their inner child and turn back time as they enjoy the carnival rides, skill games and the DAZ Arcade throughout the 10-day festival.
Live Entertainment
Music lovers can expect non-stop grooves with regional stars and A-list artists taking the stage throughout the festival. Families can also take a seat with their children to watch animated Disney classics inspired by nature, such as Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, The Jungle Book, and The Lion King.
Tickets for the festival are available on Ticketmaster.ae and start from AED 25 online and AED 30 at the door. Visitors can purchase the Festival Pass for AED 110, with access to all free zones and attractions in addition to all paid experiences, except for the skill games and inflatables which can be purchased separately at the festival. Visit www.dazfestival.ae for more information.
