Qasr al Hosn Festival, simply an overwhelming success

As the Qasr al Hosn Festival draws to a close, the over 30,000 visitors who descended on the capital for the occasion have been reflecting on what has been a spectacular 10 day national celebration. Creating a festival in the historical Qasr al Hosn site is a feat that has never been attempted before and the opportunity to learn more about Abu Dhabi's fascinating past has attracted thousands of visitors to enter via the festival's gates! "The result of the Qasr al Hosn Festival has been wonderful and in short, we have been simply overwhelmed with the positive feedback from the thousands of visitors around the nation who took part in this year's festivities and whose numbers increased by the day. The festival was also very well received by local and international media which compliments the success of the wide range of existing cultural attractions in the UAE capital. Abu Dhabi's historical journey is an incredible one and it was our goal to ensure that this was reflected in the festival's offerings. Adults and children were equally enthralled by the live demonstrations of traditional Emirati crafts and performances," said Faisal Al Sheikh, Qasr al Hosn Festival Director and Director of Events Bureau at Abu Dhabi Tourism '&' Culture Authority. "Combine the festival attendance with that of the Muntada Qasr al Hosn sessions and the Qasr al Hosn Festival Exhibition and you really begin to appreciate the extent to which the public have engaged with this project. The Qasr al Hosn fort has stood for over 250 years and is the physical embodiment of Emirati culture and tradition. This year's festival was not only a celebration of longevity but rather, it was the chance to learn more about Abu Dhabi's past and collectively feel proud of its achievements. This was illustrated through Franco Dragone's spectacular show "Story of a Fort, Legacy of a Nation" which captivated thousands of viewers over the 10 days. Using a mixture of technology, music and live performance, Franco created a show that told the story of our nation; reflecting the vision of our founders and the incredible journey that led to the realisation of the UAE today. We at the Abu Dhabi Tourism '&' Culture Authority are confident that the legacy left by this year's festival has achieved precisely that," he added.