Abu Dhabi has steadily changed how people experience culture. Instead of keeping art and literature limited to galleries, libraries, or academic spaces, the city is bringing them into everyday life. Parks, public spaces, and community areas are now central to cultural experiences. This approach makes creativity feel familiar, welcoming, and open to all.
Two festivals clearly reflect this shift: the Al Dhafra Book Festival, which focuses on reading and storytelling, and Manar Abu Dhabi, which transforms public spaces through visual art. Together, they show how Abu Dhabi is using festivals to remove barriers and make culture part of daily life.
For a long time, art and literature were often associated with formal environments. While these spaces still matter, they can feel intimidating or inaccessible to many people. Abu Dhabi’s festival-led model challenges this idea by taking culture out of closed rooms and placing it into open, shared spaces.
When people encounter books or artworks naturally—during a walk, a family outing, or an evening with friends—the experience feels relaxed. There is no pressure to understand everything or behave a certain way. This comfort is key to encouraging genuine engagement.
The Al Dhafra Book Festival plays an important role in strengthening reading culture across different age groups and communities. Its focus goes beyond selling books. It is about building a relationship between people and stories.
By hosting the festival in the Al Dhafra region, the event reaches audiences who may not regularly attend large book fairs. This choice sends a strong message that access to literature should not depend on location.
Families, students, and educators are able to engage with books closer to home. This helps make reading feel like a shared community activity rather than something limited to city-based institutions.
Children are at the heart of the festival. Storytelling sessions, readings, and interactive activities are designed to make books enjoyable and approachable. There is no pressure to perform or achieve. The aim is simple: spark curiosity.
Parents are encouraged to join in, turning reading into a shared experience. These moments help children associate books with warmth, connection, and enjoyment—an important foundation for long-term reading habits.
The festival also supports cultural identity by highlighting Arabic literature and regional storytelling traditions. This helps younger generations connect with their heritage through stories they can relate to.
At the same time, the inclusion of international works allows readers to explore new ideas and perspectives. Literature becomes a bridge between cultures, encouraging openness while remaining rooted in local identity.
While books invite people into stories through words, Manar Abu Dhabi uses visual expression to reach audiences in a different way. Its strength lies in placing art directly into public spaces.
Manar Abu Dhabi does not require visitors to enter galleries or buy tickets. Art installations appear in open areas where people naturally gather. This removes many of the barriers that often make art feel exclusive.
People are free to engage however they wish. They can stop and reflect, take photos, or simply enjoy the atmosphere. There is no expectation to analyse or explain what they see.
Visual and light-based artworks appeal to a wide audience. Children are drawn to colour, movement, and scale. Adults may reflect on meaning or how the artwork interacts with its surroundings.
This layered experience allows each viewer to take something different away. There is no single interpretation, which reinforces the idea that art is personal and inclusive.
By introducing art into familiar environments, Manar Abu Dhabi changes how people relate to the city. Ordinary spaces feel new and engaging. Streets and open areas become places for conversation and reflection.
This encourages people to spend more time outdoors and interact with their surroundings, strengthening community connections.
Making art and literature accessible has long-term benefits that go beyond attendance numbers.
When people encounter culture in relaxed settings, fear and hesitation fade. Confidence grows, making it more likely that they will explore further—whether by reading more, visiting exhibitions, or attending future events.
Early exposure is especially important for children. Positive experiences with books and art can shape curiosity and learning habits that last into adulthood.
Festivals also create shared experiences. Families and communities come together, discuss what they see or hear, and build memories. Culture becomes something collective, not individual.
What links the Al Dhafra Book Festival and Manar Abu Dhabi is a clear long-term vision. Abu Dhabi is not just hosting events. It is building a culture where art and literature feel normal, visible, and welcoming.
By repeatedly bringing creative experiences into everyday spaces, the city helps people feel comfortable engaging with culture on their own terms. Over time, this creates confident audiences who see art and literature as part of life, not something distant.
Abu Dhabi’s festival-driven approach shows that accessibility does not mean simplifying culture. It means opening doors. By celebrating reading within communities and transforming public spaces through art, the city ensures culture is shared rather than reserved.
These festivals leave a lasting impact. They shape habits, spark curiosity, and strengthen connections. Most importantly, they show that art and literature in Abu Dhabi are not just for a few—they are for everyone.
