Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces
Nahayan Bin Mubarak, INAUGURATES THE FIFTH EDITION OF THE AWARDWINNING ABU DHABI SCIENCE FESTIVAL
Abu Dhabi, 12 November 2015: The 2015 Abu Dhabi Science Festival (ADSF) was officially launched today
by HE Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development,
accompanied by HE Hussain Al Hammadi, Minister of Education, HE Dr. Amal Al-Qubaisi, Director General
of Abu Dhabi Education Council and HE Dr Mugheer khamis Al Khaili, Chairman of Health Authority, HE
Ahmed Saeed Al Calily, Director General of Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee, Rt. Hon.
Donald Wilson, Lord Lieutenant and Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, HE
Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, HE Rashid Lahej Al
Mansoori, Director General, Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Center.
During his tour, HE Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan commented: “ADSF is the largest event of
its kind in the region and is now an internationally renowned event. International and local government
and private entities have worked together for ADSF to encourage our students to think innovatively across
a range of areas including environment, space and marine sciences, among many others. The programme
of events has been carefully designed to provide tangible and engaging content, which enlightens the
senses, opens the mind and helps children learn practical skills they can use in the future.
We thank HH Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme
Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, for his continuous support of the education sector and his
commitment to ensuring that UAE youth are equipped with the necessary skills to become leaders of the
future.
We all have a role to play in encouraging our youth to innovate. As announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed
bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, this is the year
of innovation and we need to focus on research and innovation across all industries in the country to
achieve our goals. These goals continue the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who
built the UAE on a solid base of development, setting a precedent for future progress.
We thank the Abu Dhabi Education Council and the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee
organizing this festival that will help us create an innovative generation of the future. We also thank
the Edinburgh International Science Festival (EISF) for their cooperation and expertise, which have proved
invaluable in helping us to deliver the festival to the very highest international standards.
Her Excellency Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, Director General of ADEC, praised the ongoing support received by
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme
Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Chairman of ADEC, for stressing on the important role science
related subjects play in contributing to the development of the educational system. She emphasized that
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects enhance the culture of creativity and
innovation, while refining and improving skills and talents of students as per the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision to
develop a knowledge based economy.
During the event, ADEC’s Director General thanked Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of
Culture, Youth and Community Development, for inaugurating the important event which highlights the
importance of exposing youth to different innovative science and cultural programs and activities, which
comes in line with ADEC’s strategic plan to graduate a competent and well prepared workforce of
knowledgeable students.
“ADEC is keen on encouraging students to take part in STEM related fields that help promote innovation,
research and a sustainable education environment. The ADSF is part of ADEC’s key initiatives to encourage
students to experiment, investigate and explore through workshops and attractive presentations that are
tailor-made for different age groups. ADEC and TDC have organized this event to allow students to become
acquainted with different science subjects and knowledge, and take part in innovative experiments and
activities,” emphasized Her Excellency.
The award-winning ADSF 2015 is a unique event organized by the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC)
and the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC). Taking place until 22nd November, the 11day science extravaganza opened to a full capacity audience on launch day at a new location within
Mushrif Central Park. Designed to excite and inspire young minds across the UAE in the wondrous world
of science, ADSF features breathtaking experiments, exhilarating attractions and spectacular shows.
Offering a dynamic mix of family-friendly fun, visitors can also enjoy the action at partner location Al Ain
Zoo, which will host special shows all through the festival period.
Merging science with entertainment, activities at ADSF cover a variety of topics: from the human body
and the natural world to creative technology and space science - all delivered through interactive exhibits,
fun workshops and spectacular shows. Bringing back popular workshops from previous years and offering
engaging new experiences, the festival is set to excite youth from across the Emirates with an eclectic
choice of science activities; from locally inspired exhibits to an amazing variety of international
entertainment. Local content makes up 40% of the programme offering with these activities specifically
tailored to the interests of UAE audiences.
H.E. Ahmed Saeed Al Calily, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee
said: “Developing a well-equipped talent base is a key building block in creating a knowledge-based
economy, with science and technology education crucial to ensuring a forward thinking, innovation
focused society. Through informal education initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Science Festival, the
government aims to ignite a passion within our children towards science, technology and innovation from
an early age. By sparking their interest now, we will encourage them to pursue educational paths and
consequently, careers within these related sectors.
He added: "To date, the Festival has engaged thousands of children and families and the event’s steady
growth year on year demonstrates the appetite amongst our children to explore and engage with science
and technology. Through our partnership with the Abu Dhabi Education Council and our distinguished
industry and academic partners, we are able to jointly nurture a passion for science that will blossom into
career aspirations for our future scientists, doctors, engineers and innovators.”
The Festival content will be delivered by over 700 ‘Science Communicators’ who have been recruited from
Higher Education Institutions around the UAE. Trained by world-class experts, the Science Communicators
will bring science to life in a way that excites and engages the next generation of scientists. The festival
achieves wide family engagement and is ideal for children visiting with their families or as part of
organized school visits. Facilitated in collaboration with ADEC, school visits will take place throughout the
duration of ADSF with 6000 students expected to attend.
TDC has partnered with leading brands from around the UAE including Tawazun and Dolphin Energy. Local
companies providing a rich variety of content for the festival include Abu Dhabi Distribution Company
(ADDC), Abu Dhabi New York University, Emirates Foundation, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Family
Development Foundation, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Total Academy, Bidaya Media, Abu Dhabi
Astronomy, Yas Marina Circuit, the Society of Petroleum Engineers, Mad Science, Nutty Scientists,
Edutech, Handasa, and ZerOhm.
H.E. Saif Mohammed Al Hajeri, CEO of Tawazun, the presenting sponsor of ADSF said: “We are pleased to
continue supporting the 5th edition of the Abu Dhabi Science Festival. The event has brought the learning
experience of technology and engineering to the UAE youth, moreover, it has contributed in building a robust
science base in the country”. He added: “We are looking forward to take part in the success of the event which
inspires annually thousands of young people, parents and teachers who visit this dynamic festival.”
Commenting on Dolphin Energy’s involvement as Gold Sponsor, Mr Adel Ahmed Albuainain, CEO, Dolphin
Energy Limited, said: “We are very excited about this year’s programme and delighted to be involved in
the Abu Dhabi Science Festival for the fifth year running. Our activation programme is designed to offer
learning in a fun, exciting and engaging manner so that youths across the UAE are encouraged to pursue
a career in science, technology, engineering and maths.”
The fifth edition of ADSF is organized by Abu Dhabi Education Council and the Abu Dhabi Technology
Development Committee in partnership with Tawazun as “Presenting sponsor”, Dolphin Energy as “Gold
Sponsor”, ADNOC and Etihad Airways as “Affiliate Sponsors”, Abu Dhabi Media Company as “Exclusive
Media Partner” and the Edinburgh International Science Festival (EISF) as “Programming Partner”, with
the Festival produced by Flash Entertainment.
For more information and to book spaces at the various workshops taking place at the festival, please visit
the official festival website www.abudhabisciencefestival.ae and join our social media platforms in
Instagram and Twitter: @adsciencefest and in Facebook: Abu Dhabi Science Festival.
-ENDNotes to Editors:
About Abu Dhabi Education Council:
The Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) was established in accordance with law No. 24 of 2005, issued by His Highness Sheikh
Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE President, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. The
Chairman of ADEC is H.H. Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and the ViceChairman is H.H. Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs. The Council seeks to develop education
and educational institutions in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, implement innovative educational policies, plans and programs that
aim to improve education, and support educational institutions and staff to achieve the objectives of national development in
accordance with the highest international standards.
For more information about ADEC please call its headquarters at +971 (2) 6150 000 or visit our website: http://www.adec.ac.ae
ADEC Media Contact:
Dina El Shammaa
Senior Media Specialist
Strategic Comm & Media
Tel: +971 2 6150 000 / Dir: +971 2 6150 948 / Mob: 050-311-9074 / Fax: +971 2 6150 082
e-Mail: dina.elshammaa@adec.ac.ae
About Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee
The Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee (TDC) is a government entity focused on the development of human capital
in the science and technology sectors. By creating a skilled innovative workforce to drive the UAE’s knowledge-based economy,
TDC is playing a crucial role in enabling the realization of the Abu Dhabi 2030 vision and the UAE Innovation Strategy.
We encourage the study of STEM and empower and support the society to become active in science and technology based
industries with the aim to ultimately shape a future workforce equipped with the right talent and aptitude for innovation.
To achieve this, we closely collaborate and partner with government, academia and leading industry to inspire creativity and
encourage innovation within the community. We have established a holistic set of initiatives that spark interest and drive
engagement in STEM related subjects with children from an early age, nurture their inquisitiveness with continuous mentoring
and support that extends beyond equipping them for the job market.
Our aim is to empower the future generation to drive a sustainable tomorrow for Abu Dhabi and to help position the UAE amongst
the most innovative nations in the world.
For further media information, please contact:
Hiba Berrekia , IPN
Tel: +971 56 663 0691 - Email: h.berrekia@ipn.ae
Maitha Al Qader
Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee
Tel: +971 50 4277427 - Email: maitha.alqader@tdc.gov.ae