Abu Dhabi will ring in Wednesday, 31 December 2025 with Ramy Sabry headlining a New Year concert at the MOTN Festival on Abu Dhabi Corniche. Festival gates operate at Abu Dhabi Corniche, A’l Bahar area, Abu Dhabi, UAE, and the main festival entry typically opens at 4:00 PM. For support, you can call +971 2 444 0444 or email info@motn.ae, especially if you need accessibility guidance. Concert entry is listed with doors opening at 7:30 PM, while showtime is generally posted around 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM depending on the listing. Arrive earlier than you think you need.
What MOTN brings to the Corniche
MOTN has grown into Abu Dhabi’s big winter playground, mixing live music, family zones, rides, food, and pop-up experiences along the waterfront. As a result, it feels less like a single concert night and more like a full evening out with plenty to do before the headline act. Moreover, the Corniche setting makes it easy to keep your plans flexible, because you can wander between attractions and seating areas. The festival usually runs across multiple weeks in late December and early January, so it’s built to handle crowds, queues, and repeat visitors. It works well as a full-night plan, not just a concert stop.
How Wednesday night typically flows on 31 December
If you want a calmer start, you can enter around 4:00 PM, grab food early, and scout viewing angles before the busiest wave arrives. Alternatively, if your priority is the concert, you can plan to reach the Corniche area well before 7:30 PM, then settle in as gates and checks begin to build. Meanwhile, many visitors treat the headline show as the anchor and then stay through midnight energy by the waterfront, which can stretch the night later than usual. Because it is New Year’s Eve, you should expect tighter entry checks and slower walking speeds near the busiest points. Crowd peaks usually hit from 6:30 PM onward.
Ramy Sabry on a New Year festival stage
Ramy Sabry’s pop sound tends to land best in a big outdoor crowd, because the hooks are familiar and the sing-along moments travel fast. Moreover, his live sets usually lean into upbeat pacing, which suits a countdown-night mood even if you arrive tired from a long day. If you’re coming with friends, you’ll likely enjoy the festival build-up, because the pre-show atmosphere keeps moving even when you’re waiting. If you’re coming as a couple, the Corniche setting adds an easy walk-and-talk rhythm between the busy moments. Expect a high-energy set rather than a slow, seated recital.
Tickets and what to expect at the entrance
General MOTN entry commonly starts from approximately AED 35, although New Year demand can push some categories higher. Concert tickets are usually higher than general entry, often starting around approximately AED 195 to AED 225 depending on the category and availability. In addition, many concert listings include festival access bundled into the concert ticket, so you should still arrive early to actually use the grounds. Because seating policies can vary by section and sell-outs happen, you should buy only through the most reliable sellers listed for the event. Use TICKETMASTER or PLATINUMLIST for the safest ticket flow.
Getting there from Dubai and nearby Emirates
If you’re driving from Dubai, plan your departure earlier than normal, because New Year traffic compresses the last stretch into Abu Dhabi and then tightens again near the Corniche. Moreover, if you’re coming from Sharjah or Ajman, the extra distance makes timing even more sensitive, so an afternoon arrival can feel dramatically easier than a late-evening rush. Alternatively, some groups drive to a less congested drop-off area and then use taxis for the final approach, which can reduce parking stress. When you return after midnight, you can also consider waiting a little, because immediate departures often get stuck in slow-moving exit lines. Build a buffer of at least 60 to 90 minutes for city-side delays.
Parking, road pressure, and on-the-ground movement
Parking near the Corniche can fill quickly, and on major nights it can also feel slow to exit, even if you found a spot early. Therefore, many visitors prefer taxis or ride-hailing to avoid long post-midnight queues in parking lanes. If you do drive, aim for an earlier slot, and then walk a little farther rather than circling close-in roads repeatedly. Also, expect pedestrian funnels and security checks near the busiest entry points, so comfortable shoes matter more than people assume. Parking capacity is limited.
Food, families, and comfort planning inside the festival
Food trucks and casual counters usually handle the quickest dinners, so you can eat earlier and avoid the headline-time rush. Meanwhile, families often do best by arriving around opening time, letting kids enjoy activities first, and then deciding whether to stay for the concert crowd later. If you’re going solo, the festival layout can still feel easy, because you can shift positions quickly when you spot a better view. Also, the Corniche evening air can feel cooler after 9:00 PM, especially if haze increases, so a light layer keeps you comfortable without weighing you down. Hydration and a light jacket make the late hours easier.
WARNINGS AND TIPS CLOSING PARAGRAPH
On Wednesday, 31 December 2025, Abu Dhabi is expected to feel mild and a bit hazy, roughly around 18°C to 24°C across the day and evening, so bring a light layer for the waterfront after sunset. Therefore, plan your arrival earlier, because traffic and pedestrian congestion typically intensify from early evening, and parking can become a time drain near the Corniche. If you want less stress, consider taxis or ride-hailing, and if you use buses, build extra time for walking from stops to entry points. Ticket and door prices can change, so treat AED amounts as approximately, and for this ticketed concert the most reliable purchase options remain TICKETMASTER and PLATINUMLIST. Choose your arrival time like it’s part of the event. Details were cross-checked in the same practical way the editor team at www.few.ae typically verifies busy holiday-night listings.
then "Add to Home Screen"