Abu Dhabi is gearing up to host the fourth edition of  'Mother of the Nation Festival', which will take place from March 12-23 in conjunction with the Special Olympics World Games, which is taking place from March 14-21, a report said.

Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the Games - being held in the Middle East and North Africa region for the first time -  will see more than 7,500 athletes from 192 countries participate, said a report in WAM.

The festival celebrates, commemorates and honours the inspirational values of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, president of the General Women's Union, chief executive officer of the Family Development Foundation and president of the Higher Council for Motherhood and Childhood.

The festival’s campaign will embody the spirit of the ‘Year of Tolerance’ through a number of activities, which will once again be held along a kilometre of Abu Dhabi’s Corniche. It will offer something for everyone to enjoy, from musical and entertainment performances and art exhibits to interactive workshops, in addition to the newly introduced Special Olympics Zone. There will also be an e-sports gaming championship in the Progress Zone, while the Happiness Zone returns with an array of exhilarating activities, the report said.

"The games truly embody the values of the Mother of the Nation, namely in honouring People of Determination and providing them with an inclusive environment which highlights their achievements and capabilities, in line with the unique values that Her Highness continuously instils in our community, such as tolerance, determination, resilience and camaraderie," the report cited Saif Saeed Ghobash, undersecretary at DCT Abu Dhabi, as saying.

Another new highlight of the Mother of the Nation Festival will be a captivating touring show by Cirque du Soleil, which will make its Middle East debut by appearing in Abu Dhabi for the first time ever. Presented in collaboration with Alchemy Project, the spectacular production titled ‘Bazzar’ will be a breathtaking and colourful homage to Cirque du Soleil’s legacy, and will premiere on March 6 and run until March 16 on Yas Island.