spirited celebrations during Eid Al Fitr as it marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. With a great variety of city-wide mall activations and retail promotions, hotel and resort offers, the capital is expecting a wave of tourists from within the UAE and neighboring GCC countries. The emirate's hospitality and tourism stakeholders are gearing up to create unforgettable leisure, recreation and entertainment experiences throughout Eid Al Fitr to underline Abu Dhabi's position as a family holiday destination. Commenting on the line up of events, Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), said: "Eid Al Fitr is a time for celebration and the perfect time to enjoy Abu Dhabi's world-class family-friendly leisure and cultural activities and experiences." He added: "We highly appreciate our partners for their cooperation in bringing a spectacular array of top-tier events and entertainment to Abu Dhabi, ensuring that the emirate is the ideal destination of choice during this time of the year. The UAE capital will host a full range of activities and promotions in the city's leading hotels, resorts and malls." A number of events are being staged to celebrate this lively festival for the entire family. Mega-Sale at Yas Mall: For the first-time ever, Yas Mall will open for 24 hours, offering a mega-sale with discounts up to 90% along with exciting hourly specials and further post-midnight reductions. The emirate's premier shopping mall will also host a parade of performances by jugglers, dancers and musicians for hourly live entertainment for the whole family. Along with the vast variety of retail and dining options, there will be a life-size Foosball setup in Town Square, the heart of Yas Mall. The mega-sale will run from 10 am on 25th June to 10 am on 26th June 2017. Magnificent fireworks at Yas Marina: Dazzling firework displays will fill the skies on the 25th June as Yas Island lights up the capital's premier dining and leisure destination to mark the first day of Eid Al Fitr. The fireworks, visible from Yas Marina's seven restaurants as well as night boat cruises, will begin from 9.00pm. Fun at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld: On Sunday 25th June , join the UAE's first-ever 24-hour Rollercoaster Rally and enjoy non-stop rollercoaster action, live performances, games, DJ sets and four incredible themed entertainment zones, with free entry to the park from 6pm to 11am on June 26. For those seeking to cool off, a program of week-long Eid festivities at Yas Waterworld will include a unique array of music, contests, fun activities and more – perfect for the entire family. Engaging mall activations at The Galleria: Local artists and performers will entertain mall visitors with performances at The Galleria. An Ayyalah band will perform daily throughout Eid Al Fitr, showcasing an exciting display of Emirati culture. Joining them for the first three days of Eid will be Jose Luis Quiceno, whose talent lies in creating visual masterpieces through art action speed painting; and a local calligrapher, who will create traditional Arabic scripts and artistic designs which visitors can take home. Meanwhile, visitors to Marina Mall can enjoy four days of entertainment with ‹Dora the Explorer's Friendship Fiesta Dora's Rainforest Maze' and a super sale on 23rd June, with up to 90% discounts at select stores, double raffle tickets on all purchases and extended mall working hours from 10:00am to 2:00am! Shoppers at Al Wahda Mall can experience the Pirates of The Arabia, the fascinating Floating Tanoura and a high energy yet beautiful Arabic Dabke Dance. Many hotels and resorts are offering a range of discounted and value-added offers for the period: Extravagant package deal at Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi: To ensure the festivities of Eid Al Fitr continue in absolute opulence, the Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi has launched a special long weekend package rate with up to 25% discount on room and suite bookings. With the inclusion of their spectacular International buffet breakfast at the Le Vendome Brasserie, guests will also have the luxury of overlooking the crystal-clear sea views as they enjoy the fine selection of breakfast items. The offer is valid for stays from 25th June to 30th June 2017. Unique experiences at Jumeirah at Etihad Towers for GCC residents: Guests from GCC countries can create unique and timeless experiences at the Jumeirah at Etihad Towers with a 15% discount on their stays. The exclusive promotion includes buffet breakfast, complimentary beach and pool access and the chance to observe the stunning Abu Dhabi skyline from their Observation Deck, the highest vantage point of the city. The Eid Al Fitr celebrations are a precursor for an exciting and highly-anticipated summer of activity across the Emirate with the UAE capital's hosting of stars at the South Indian International Movie Awards 2017 and the return of the annual Abu Dhabi Summer Season. — SG
