DCT Abu Dhabi reveals that the 2025 celebrations will be anchored around the city’s cultural heritage that melds Arab and Emirati culture. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Frédéric Prochasson
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and UNESCO will be joining hands to present next year’s International Jazz Day, an annual event marked on 30 April to celebrate jazz and honour the sound of artistic freedom.
With the Emirati city selected by UNESCO as the global host city to the event, DCT Abu Dhabi has shared that its hosting of the celebrations will be anchored around its cultural heritage defined as a tapestry of an Arab and Emirati culture.
As a UNESCO Creative City of Music, Abu Dhabi will showcase the interplay of local musical traditions and jazz dating back decades. The city has invested heavily in its culture sector, attracting world-class cultural institutions while also supporting home-grown institutions and its Arabic roots.
Alongside the main concert, educational programmes and community outreach will be key features of the day’s celebrations. Higher-education institutions, such as Berklee Abu Dhabi and NYU Abu Dhabi, among other UAE-based universities, will be opening their doors, offering workshops and masterclasses in their lecture halls, exhibition spaces and auditoriums.
Mohamed Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “As a UNESCO Creative City of Music, Abu Dhabi has long been a beacon of musical innovation, where traditional Arabian melodies blend seamlessly with global genres, creating a vibrant and unique cultural tapestry. Hosting International Jazz Day reaffirms our dedication to the arts and provides a global stage to showcase our dynamic music scene.”