Abu Dhabi has expanded its Eid Al-Adha programme with a broad line-up of museum, heritage and family attractions, using the holiday period to strengthen its cultural tourism offer and draw residents, regional visitors and international travellers into the emirate’s main leisure districts.The programme spans Saadiyat Cultural District, Yas Island and major heritage venues, combining exhibitions, immersive performances, film screenings, craft workshops, poetry, music and theme-park entertainment. It reflects a wider effort to position Abu Dhabi as a year-round destination where culture, hospitality and family leisure are packaged around peak travel seasons.
Louvre Abu Dhabi is at the centre of the cultural calendar, with extended opening hours and a holiday programme built around its galleries, architecture and public spaces. The museum is presenting audio-visual experiences beneath its dome, including “We Are Not Alone”, a production exploring superintelligence and interstellar travel with contributions from recognised voices including Hussain Al Jassmi. It is also showing “The Great Journey”, a film following a father and son travelling from southern France to Makkah, linking the emotional and spiritual themes of Eid Al-Adha with a wider human story.
The museum’s offer also includes “Floating Breathwork”, a guided meditation experience using floating mats in a multisensory setting. The programme sits alongside its current exhibition, “Picasso, the Figure”, which runs until 31 May and focuses on the artist’s exploration of the human form. Louvre Abu Dhabi’s holiday opening schedule gives visitors additional flexibility during a period when families and tourists seek indoor cultural options as summer temperatures rise.
Zayed National Museum is adding a heritage-led dimension through its “Eid Joy” programme from 27 to 31 May, featuring poetry, music, traditional crafts and storytelling. One of the central attractions is an interactive poetry experience in Arabic and English, where poets turn visitors’ memories and personal stories into original poems inspired by Abu Dhabi’s communities and identity.
The museum will also host an “Eid Morning Gathering” modelled on the traditional majlis, with Nabati poetry, Al Minkous singing, Arabic coffee, live music and handicraft workshops. Traditional performances including Al Ayala, Al Harbiyah and Al Na’ashat are designed to give younger audiences and tourists a closer view of local customs while maintaining the celebratory character of the holiday.
Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi is focusing on workshops and family learning, with activities such as Eid biscuit decorating, palm frond weaving, henna art and nature-inspired mosaic design. Architectural and educational tours highlight the museum’s sustainability features, linking the holiday programme with Abu Dhabi’s broader investment in science, education and environmental awareness.
Yas Island is extending the strategy beyond museums by drawing families into major entertainment venues. Ferrari World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is promoting its high-speed rides and rollercoasters, while Yas Waterworld is highlighting new water attractions including Mataha Madness, billed as the UAE’s tallest waterslide tower. Warner Bros. World Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is targeting families through character-led experiences across six themed lands, including attractions linked to film and animation franchises.
The breadth of programming shows how Abu Dhabi is using Eid Al-Adha as both a community celebration and a tourism accelerator. Rather than relying on a single event, the emirate is offering layered itineraries that allow visitors to combine museums, performances, hotel stays, dining, shopping and theme-park experiences over several days.
That approach fits the emirate’s Tourism Strategy 2030, which aims to raise annual visitor numbers to 39.3 million, lift the sector’s contribution to GDP to AED90 billion and create 178,000 jobs across the tourism ecosystem. The plan also seeks to increase hotel room supply from 34,000 in 2023 to 52,000 by 2030, while expanding holiday homes and alternative accommodation.
Abu Dhabi’s tourism performance has already given the strategy a stronger base. The emirate welcomed 26.6 million visitors in 2025, including 5.9 million hotel guests and 338,000 guests in holiday homes and glamping sites. Hotel revenues reached AED9.1 billion, while occupancy rose to 81 per cent. International guest growth has been supported by key markets including India, Russia and the UK.
The Eid calendar also strengthens Saadiyat Cultural District’s role as a long-term anchor for the emirate’s cultural economy. Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and other cultural assets are being positioned not as standalone landmarks but as part of a connected visitor journey that includes beaches, resorts, dining and retail.
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