As many as 62 events will take place across Abu Dhabi emirate between June 12 and August 29.
Magician David Blaine and the United Nations of Comedy are among this year's attractions for the Abu Dhabi Summer Season.
Previously known as Summer in Abu Dhabi, the festival has seen a change in name, concept and location. As many as 62 events will take place across Abu Dhabi emirate between June 12 and August 29 and the event is being put together by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (ADTCA), Flash Entertainment and Emirates Palace.
"This year Abu Dhabi Summer Season will be nothing short of a blockbuster,” said Mohammed Al Dhaheri, strategy and policy director at ADTCA.
To start with, Flash Entertainment announced that five shows that will take place at the Emirates Palace hotel.
From July 31 till August 2 there will be a full-length show of Freej, a locally produced Emirati cartoon. Freej Live: Abood's Dream will be performed twice daily.
Next up, on August 14, stars from Arabs Got Talent, Arab Idol and The Voice Middle East will perform in an evening of Arab music showcase.
Among them will be Palestinian singer Mohammed Assaf aka Asaroukh (The Rocket), Saudi Arabian illusionist Ahmed El Bayed and Palestinian sand artist Mohammed Al Dairi, who collectively have 28 million hits on YouTube.
On August 15, the Emirates Palace auditorium, usually home to symphonic and philharmonic orchestra, will host Bollywood playback singer Sunidhi Chauhan.
One of the world's renowned magicians, David Blaine, will perform a Houdini style act, escaping from Emirates Palace. Blaine, who became famous for his street shows and holds several world records, will make three life-threatening appearances at the Emirates Palace, from August 21 to 23, each ending with 10 minutes under water without breathing.
The United Nations of Comedy is returning this year, after being part of Abu Dhabi Summer Festival in 2013. They will be performing on August 28 and 29.
Al Dhaheri explained that switching the format of the festival, from mostly a family entertainment one with a couple of family shows and from the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre to the more luxurious (and expensive) venue of Emirates Palace is meant to make Abu Dhabi more attractive during the summer months.
These include the Royal Moscow Ballet, Cinderella; the Pilobolus, a part shadow act, part dance, part circus and part music group, and La Verità, a theatrical homage to the life and work of Salvador Dali, written and directed by Cirque du Soleil's Corteo producer, Daniele Finzi Pasca.
Abu Dhabi Summer Season will also spread across malls and other venues, not only in the capital, but in Al Ain and Madinat Zayed, as well. Since summer 2014 includes one of the world's biggest sporting events, the World Cup, Flash Entertainment will be involved in that.
The place will stay open all night long throughout the World Cup (June 12 - July 13) which will partially take place during Ramadan. Entrance is free.
Tickets and details for the festival are available on http://www.abudhabisummerseason.ae
Source: Khaleej Times