Mother Of The Nation Is Back - And It's Out Of This World!

Roll up, roll up - Mother of the Nation is back in the capital and the Abu Dhabi Corniche is the place to be for 26 days of out of this world action this December. Returning for the 8th iteration, this family-friendly favourite has kicked things up this year with more of, well, everything!

From the 6th to the 31st of December, get involved in multiple zones: Thrill, Amuse, Indulge and Music destinations are packed with rides, amusements, games, entertainment, shops and of course, food - with plenty of reasons to return time and again all month long! 

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THRILL ZONE

Feeling brave? Don't miss this live horror experience. Fans of the famous Five Nights at Freddy's video game can live the game experience in reality through a horror maze that follows the story of the game - it’s one for the bigger fans though, you need to be 12 or older to enter!

Augmented Games by Moment Factory sees the merger of gaming and reality, with some fun and never-seen-before immersive and interactive experiences where festival goers can morph into players in augmented reality.

Check out a galaxy-themed indoor trampoline park at Ninja Kidz Action Park, a flight experience with Space Flight in their open-air wind tunnel (this one has an additional cost but it’s worth it!) and a 4X4 track with electric mini jeeps (ages 6-10 can ride as a passenger, kids 10+ may drive the vehicle but need an adult in the passenger seat). 

There’s a basketball hub, arcade, bungee swings and some super cute outdoor swings perfect for a MOTN happy snap in the Thrill Zone, too!

AMUSE ZONE 

Ready to take the adrenaline down a notch? Start with the Out of this World Museum - this Instagrammable journey through space is full of photo ops and a lot of fun! The quintessential Ferris Wheel offers a picture-perfect view of the festival from the air, and the picture-perfect backdrop as the sun sets in the evening!

Hot off the plane from London, Chin Chin Ice Cream is ready to wow you. Described as the ‘future of ice cream’ and ‘the best ice cream parlour in England’, we concur! 

It’s ice cream hand-churned with liquid nitrogen (yes, wow) but this pioneering technique is combined with quirky flavours like coffee & olive oil or black sesame tahini halva for some tasty results. We demolished the sticky date pudding in about 20 seconds flat! Another international hit, Pastasole is true Italian pasta with the energy of Manhattan: homemade pasta, top-notch ingredients, Italian soul, and NYC energy, what’s not to love? 

‍MOTN Theatre is a new addition to the festival this year, and is jam-packed with shows all month long. Look out for some famous faces, with the likes of Bluey and Bingo, Falfool, Miraculous and Mr Bean all making some appearances to meet their Abu Dhabi fans. Enjoy carnival rides, arts and crafts, Movies in the Park (with a different movie screening at 7PM each night, including some festive favourites like Home Alone and Polar Express the week of Christmas!), skill games and some foodie musts like Fika (from Sweden!) Chocofreat and Ugly Burger all finding a home in the Amuse Zone this December.

INDULGE ZONE

Eat, drink and be merry has been replaced with eat, shop and be happy by MOTN - and we’re happy to do as we’re told! First up? Brooki Bakehouse, which has become an immediate hit at Mother of the Nation this year with queues getting longer by the day - we’re so excited to see Brooke and the team, you can check out more on this cult favourite here!

After you’ve scored some cookies (or maybe before, so you have something to satisfy that grumbling stomach while you line up!), check out The Food Hall. Here, you’ll find a smashing offering of some of London’s finest viral foodie faves. Check out Frank! - your American hotdog vendor on a mission to reinvent the American hot dog with a London twist. Lucky's Hot Chicken by Senseless Heat is a unique take on southern American cuisine, while Meltsmiths offers a cut above your average street-food outfit, with grilled cheese sandwiches dubbed ‘magnificent melty masterpieces’. 

The home of London's smashed burgers in the iconic Camden Market, Peckish is one to get your hands on while you can, and Soft Serve Society lets you choose from elaborate ice cream sundaes, bubble teas, brownies, waffles, and “freakshakes”. From New York via the UK, Voodoo Ray’s serves up GIANT NYC-style slices of their 22” inch pizzas, perfect to grab and go. 

Along with the international stars, plenty of local favourites are storming the MOTN grounds this year - don’t miss Mitzumami, serving up some of the best shwarmas in the business (we tried these, and gosh, shawarma cooked with a live wood fire is something ELSE). 

There is plenty of shopping, with adorable pop-ups from the likes of FAAMS adorable hand made kids clothes, Hamad Slime Chef, Headspace, HypeHouse by Recess, Mahari for some fab jewellery, Odela & Co local perfumes and Socks Up to name just a few. 

TICKETS

General Admission: AED30 

MOTN Day Pass: AED150

Friends & Family Bundle: AED450 (buy three MOTN Day Passes and get one free!)

MOTN Abu Dhabi Season Pass: AED390

*Ticket prices are AED5 higher at the gate, so buy online to skip the queues and save a few dirham to put towards dinner! 

Check out the MOTN website for inclusions for each ticket type. General admission gets you access to all the foodie stalls (dishes are individually priced) and plenty of activities and insta-worthy photo ops, so you can definitely have a fun night out, no matter your budget. Gates open from 4PM daily until December 31st.