Abu Dhabi’s winter calendar stays busy on Sunday, 28 December 2025, when Bilal Derky takes the MOTN Festival Stage at Abu Dhabi Corniche for a night slot that starts around 8:30 PM and runs to approximately 10:00 PM. The venue is MOTN at Abu Dhabi Corniche in the Al Bahar area near Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi, and you can reach the festival team at info@motn.ae for official event enquiries. For broader Abu Dhabi visitor support and directions, many residents use the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi number +971 2 444 0444. Bring a valid ticket for entry checks.
Festival timings and the best flow
MOTN typically opens from 4:00 PM, so you can build a smooth plan that doesn’t feel rushed. If you want the “full” experience, arrive closer to 5:00 PM or 6:00 PM, explore the festival zones, then settle into the concert area after the gates for the seated section open at 7:00 PM. However, if you prefer a simpler night, you can arrive later and focus only on the show window. Arrive early if you hate queues.
Ticket types and viewing options
For MOTN General Admission, expect prices around AED 35 plus fees for ages 4 to 59, while child tickets often sit around AED 25 plus fees for ages 4 to 12. For Bilal Derky’s concert access, listings commonly show seated tickets starting from approximately AED 75, and that price usually includes MOTN General Admission as part of the package. Meanwhile, MOTN visitors who only hold General Admission can often still watch from the standing area, while the seated section remains for concert-ticket holders. Concert seating is open seating.
Who Bilal Derky is on stage
Bilal Derky has built a modern Arabic pop lane that blends catchy hooks with a production-forward sound, and that approach tends to translate well in open-air festival settings. Because he also works across composing and producing, his live set often feels tightly paced, with quick transitions and crowd-friendly choruses. Moreover, MOTN crowds usually skew mixed, so you’ll see committed fans near the front and curious festival-goers drifting in as the set builds. If you like energetic vocals and a beat-driven atmosphere, this is the kind of show that lands best once the night air cools. Expect a high-energy set.
Getting there from Dubai and nearby Emirates
If you drive from Dubai, plan for approximately 90 minutes door to door, and add extra buffer because weekend traffic into the Corniche area can spike before headline slots. If you come from Sharjah or Ajman, you’ll usually want even more buffer time, especially if you aim to arrive around 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Alternatively, many people take the intercity bus into Abu Dhabi and then switch to a taxi or ride-hailing for the last stretch, which can feel calmer on busy nights. Leave earlier than your instincts suggest.
Parking, drop-off, and comfort notes
Parking can feel easier if you follow MOTN signage and arrive before the main evening surge, and many visitors look to the Nation Towers area opposite the Corniche when festival guidance points that way. Still, you should expect slower movement closer to the show, so a taxi or ride-hailing drop-off often saves time if your group prefers convenience. Also, the festival setting stays family-friendly overall, yet the concert area can get loud, so parents often keep younger kids a bit further back. Parking capacity is limited.
WARNINGS AND TIPS CLOSING PARAGRAPH
Weather-wise, Abu Dhabi on Sunday, 28 December 2025 looks dry and clear, with daytime warmth around 26 to 27°C and a cooler evening near 22 to 24°C, so a light layer helps after 9:00 PM. Because the Corniche area gets busy, aim to arrive before 7:00 PM if you want smoother entry and less time stuck in traffic, and consider taxi or ride-hailing if parking looks full. If you buy tickets, remember prices can change and should be treated as approximately AED 35 plus fees for General Admission and from approximately AED 75 for seated concert access, and reliable sellers commonly include PLATINUMLIST and TICKETMASTER, alongside onsite ticket booths when available. Make your reservation before it’s too late! Also, the event planning notes here follow the kind of practical checks the editor of www.few.ae would expect for a peak-season Corniche night.
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