Hudayriyat kite festival takes flight in Abu Dhabi

Flyers from around the world descend on capital for three-day showcase

Roger Tessa Gambassi from France and his wife Nilza from Colombia join the Hudayriyat International Kite Festival 2024 in Abu Dhabi. All photos: Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Various kite designs can be seen taking to the skies over Marsana Beach

The three-day event is free to attend

Samuel Michel Roger from France with his wife Laura Mastromauro from Italy perform synchronised kite-flying at the festival

Flyers and visitors had a whale of a time

In addition to kite-flying, there are also kite-making and decoration workshops

Animal kites take to the skies over Marsana Beach

Jim Martin from the US at the festival

Colourful fish kites

Plenty of visitors joined the inaugural event

Kites in the shape of giant foxes, whales and colourful fish soared over Marsana Beach as part of the first Hudayriyat International Kite Festival.

Flyers from around the world are in Abu Dhabi for the three-day event, which finishes on Sunday.

In addition to watching them take flight, visitors can join kite-making and decoration workshops.

Hudayriat spans 3,000 hectares and is a neighbourhood with a focus on fitness and nature. It has cycling and jogging tracks, a sprawling obstacle course, courts and other action-packed areas that can be found on the island.

The island is connected to Abu Dhabi via a suspension bridge that is an extension of Sheikh Shakhbout bin Sultan Street. Aside from the main road, the island can also be accessed through cycling lanes.

In June, plans were revealed for Hudayriat Island that include transforming about 5,100 hectares of it into a residential and leisure attraction.

In December, a 15km mountain bike trail was inaugurated.

Aside from residential communities, the new mega project that is being led by developer Modon Properties, will add 53.5km of coastline to the city's landscape, including 16km of beaches.

New amenities are also coming, such as Velodrome Abu Dhabi and Surf Abu Dhabi, as well as a wide range of sport, commerce, and leisure amenities, such as the largest urban park in the emirate and a 220km-long network of cycle tracks.

Hudayriyat International Kite Festival runs until Sunday