The second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi, a public art initiative focused on light-based works, will launch on 1 November 2025 and run through 4 January 2026. The high-profile street artist KAWS will feature prominently with a large-scale installation of his signature COMPANION figure reclining and holding a lit moon. Curated by artistic director Khai Hori, the exhibition includes 23 works across four locations under the theme 'The Light Compass,' with 15 works at Jubail Island—including Shaikha Al Mazrou's land art and a dome by Dutch duo DRIFT—and eight installations at Al Ain, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, featuring artists such as Maitha Hamdan, Ammar Al Attar, and Christian Brinkmann.
This edition matters because it underscores Abu Dhabi's ambitious push to establish itself as a major cultural hub, complementing its Saadiyat Island developments like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. Manar Abu Dhabi is part of the larger Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative, which launched with a $35 million budget in 2023, and the inclusion of Al Ain expands the initiative's reach to a UNESCO site, blending contemporary art with heritage. The participation of international and Emirati artists highlights the emirate's strategy to attract global attention while fostering local talent.