The second edition of Manar Abu Dhabi, a public art initiative focused on light-based works, will launch on 1 November 2025, featuring 23 installations across four locations including Jubail Island and Al Ain. High-profile street artist KAWS will present a large-scale work showing his signature COMPANION figure reclining while lifting a lit moon. Other participating artists include Emirati sculptor Shaikha Al Mazrou, Dutch duo DRIFT, Maitha Hamdan, Ammar Al Attar, and Hamburg-based Christian Brinkmann, who will debut an interactive audio-visual piece called Floral Resonance.
Manar Abu Dhabi is part of the broader Public Art Abu Dhabi initiative, which launched in 2023 with a $35m budget. The event underscores Abu Dhabi's strategic push to establish itself as a major cultural hub, complementing its existing institutions on Saadiyat Island such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the upcoming Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. By bringing contemporary public art to both urban and UNESCO World Heritage sites, the initiative aims to enhance cultural tourism and community engagement.