



‘Mansour, The Festival’, a family-friendly festival of culture, live performances, interactive workshops was held from November 15–17, 2024, at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi.
Powered by Abu Dhabi Events Company (ADEC) and presented by Solutions+, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, the immersive event brought the world of the beloved Emirati character Mansour to life with an exciting blend of performances, workshops, and interactive attractions.
The event successfully set a Guinness World Record title for The World’s Largest Ball Pit on 14 November 2024.
The pit measured 45 meters in diameter (1,590 sqm) and was filled with approximately 2.4 million eco-friendly plastic balls that attracted thousands of families and attendees from across the UAE.
Noura Al Hammadi, General Manager of ADEC and CEO of Bidaya Media mentioned exclusively to Arab News Japan the main highlights of the event.
“Mansour, The Festival was an extraordinary celebration of creativity, culture, and family entertainment, featuring a range of unique highlights. One of the standout features was the world’s largest ball pit, a record-breaking attraction that captivated visitors of all ages,” she said.
“Alongside this, the festival offered an array of cultural activities, interactive workshops, and live performances that emphasized learning through fun. Appearances by the beloved Mansour characters brought the festival to life, creating a magical experience for families.
“The event was thoughtfully designed to celebrate UAE culture, encourage creativity, and foster a sense of community, making it a memorable and educational experience for all. This was a perfect blend of the expertise of both Abu Dhabi Entertainment Company (ADEC) and Bidaya Media teams, ensuring a seamless and impactful delivery,” she added.
About the challenges of organizing the event, Al Hammadi said: “Organizing an event of this magnitude came with its own set of challenges. One of the primary hurdles was ensuring seamless coordination across multiple stakeholders, from partners and sponsors to performers and logistics teams. Managing the logistics of large-scale activities, such as the world’s largest ball pit and live performances, required meticulous planning and precision. Another challenge was engaging a diverse audience while preserving the cultural authenticity of the event.
“We wanted the festival to resonate with both local and international attendees, and achieving this balance involved strategic planning and innovative programming. However, the collaborative efforts of the ADEC and Bidaya Media teams ensured these challenges were met with success”.
About the response and feedback from the people who attended the event, Al Hammadi said: “The response to ‘Mansour, The Festival’ was overwhelmingly positive. Families and attendees shared their appreciation for the interactive activities, cultural relevance, and family-friendly atmosphere. Many attendees were particularly impressed by the unique appeal of the Mansour characters and the opportunity to engage with them in person. The world’s largest ball pit was a major highlight, drawing large crowds and creating lasting memories for families”.
“We also received fantastic feedback about the Mansour parade, which takes audiences through three immersive acts: the Traditional World, celebrating Arabic heritage; the VR World, a futuristic experience with LED entertainment; and a dazzling drone show finale, with 800 drones illuminating the night sky above the stadium. The parade and its finale perfectly embodied the journey from traditional to modern”.
“We were delighted by the unprecedented response, with the event selling out every day within just a few hours. This overwhelming demand has inspired plans to expand future editions, ensuring even more people can enjoy the experience. We are actively considering extending the event dates and increasing its size, as we are aware that some fans, including those who travelled from other countries, were unable to access the event due to the high turnout. This feedback is a key factor in shaping our future plans. The positive reception from attendees has reaffirmed our vision and commitment to delivering world-class events that celebrate UAE creativity and innovation,” she added.
Regarding upcoming projects and activities following this event, Al Hammadi said:” Building on the success of Mansour, The Festival, we have an exciting slate of upcoming projects. We are pleased to announce the launch of a Mansour comic titled Mansour: Age of AI. This premiere limited-edition issue, created by award-winning comic artist Jorj Abou Mhaya, will explore new stories within the Mansour universe, beyond what fans have seen in the animated series. Initially available exclusively in Arabic, an English edition will also be released to reach a wider audience”.
“Additionally, Mansour live shows have already debuted at the Jeddah Festival in Saudi Arabia as part of the franchise’s regional expansion. These live performances bring the beloved characters to new audiences and reinforce Mansour’s cultural and educational mission”.
“Looking ahead, we are developing animated series for different age groups, including preschoolers, as well as Season 2 of Mansour: Age of AI. These new ventures aim to diversify the Mansour brand while continuing to inspire and educate future generations. The overwhelming success of the festival has set the stage for Mansour’s growth as a global franchise, and we are excited to take these next steps in our journey,” she concluded.