Umm Al Emarat Park

Umm Al Emarat Park (Mother of the Nation¹), previously known as Mushrif Park², is an entertainment and educational community hub in Abu Dhabi, UAE.³ It is one of the oldest and largest parks in Abu Dhabi.⁴
Its vision is “to create a family-friendly, community-focused, environmentally sustainable spot for leisure, education, and cultural enrichment”⁵ to honor the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s vision of preserving the United Arab Emirates’ cultural and natural history.⁶

The park seeks to serve as a community hub that fosters family connections and social interactions while celebrating Abu Dhabi’s cultural and natural assets.⁷ The park aims to provide a wide array of recreational, educational, and environmental programs that cater to all age groups, thereby contributing to the health and well-being of its visitors.⁸

Sustainability and heritage preservation are the primary focus of the design of the park, saving over 200 standing mature trees with an age of over 20 years.⁹ Located centrally on 15th Street between Karamah Street and Airport Road¹⁰ and covering an area of 145,000 square meters,¹¹¹² Umm Al Emarat Park features nine key attractions:¹³

1. Amphitheatre: Located opposite the Entrance Pavilion with an area of 6,000 m², this large outdoor venue accommodates over 3,000 people for events like concerts, theater performances, and art displays, featuring an interactive water fountain, dressing rooms, and space for lighting and art installations.¹⁴
2. Animal Barn & Petting Zoo: A 1,200 m² area situated in the Children’s Garden, managed by Al Ain Zoo, houses 26 animals, including ponies and camels, and features misting fans for summer cooling.¹⁵
3. Botanic Garden: Spanning 7,000 m², hosts over 200 plant species from the UAE and other countries, featuring a natural stone pond, wooden benches, and a small bridge.¹⁶
4. Children’s Garden: A 11,000 m² interactive play area accommodating 3,000 people that includes various play zones, water splash, outdoor cinema, and kids’ activities for AED 10 each.¹⁷
5. Evening Garden Pavilion: A peaceful 3,000 m² green space for relaxation, reading, or working, containing toilets and seating areas.¹⁸
6. Great Lawn: An 18,000 m² open space for sports, yoga, and relaxation, accommodating up to 8,000 people, with two playgrounds, sensory activities, anemometers, outdoor exercise equipment, seating areas, and F&B outlets.¹⁹
7. Shade House: This 1,000 m² iconic structure is 40 m long, 30 m high, and features two upper-level decks overlooking the park, with an elevator, toilets, a 690 m² lawn, and 40 plant species in a moisture-controlled atmosphere.²⁰
8. The Wisdom Garden: A 1,230 m² serene garden dedicated to the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, displaying 30 of his quotes, with 10 marble walls and water structures.²¹
9. The Promenade: A 340 m² relaxing path with palm trees, water features, wooden benches, and a venue for hosting markets, ideal for walking and unwinding.²²

With more than 700,000 visitors in its first year,²³²⁴ Umm Al Emarat Park offers a wide range of activities targeted to residents, tourists, and families.²⁵ The park offers a variety of recreational areas, playgrounds, fitness spaces, and green landscapes to engage the visitors. It features interactive experiences such as “My Little Farm” for children, special celebrations, and water features.²⁶ The Animal Barn offers animal lovers the opportunity to feed and ride animals.²⁷ Educational groups enjoy nature programs, workshops, and exhibitions in the park.²⁸ The park also hosts gatherings for community organizations and event planners. Visitors can explore the Botanical Garden, take a family-friendly train ride, participate in community events, or relax in scenic spots like the Shade House.²⁹ Through educational packages, students of all levels are empowered with knowledge and skills,³⁰ with activities ranging from AED 45 to AED 65 per student.³¹

Umm Al Emarat Park is owned by the private investment group Al Ain Properties³² and was developed in collaboration with a diverse team of international designers. The architectural design was led by Semple Brown Design, and the landscape architecture by BrightView Design Group (formerly ValleyCrest³³).³⁴ Crystal Fountains operated the aquatic design and manufactured the water feature product, with Water in Motion as a contractor.³⁵ This multidisciplinary team reinvented the park for the 21st century, ensuring the integration of modern amenities with cultural heritage and norms.³⁶ Local contractors, together with experienced staff, played a vital role in the construction and implementation process.³⁷

Umm Al Emarat Park underwent several implementation and development phases. Originally named Mushrif Park, it was opened for the first time in 1982 as a space dedicated exclusively to women and children.³⁸ In 2012, plans for redevelopment began, leading to a closure from 2013 to 2015 for major renovations³⁹ costing $48.7 million.⁴⁰ The park reopened to the public on March 19, 2015, featuring extensive modern upgrades.⁴¹ Later that year, it earned the Merit Award in the Design category from the American Society for Landscape Architects (ASLA).⁴² In 2016, the park was renamed Umm Al Emarat Park in honor of H.H. Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarakⁱ,⁴³ and it received the prestigious Green Flag Award ⁱⁱ for sustainability.⁴⁴ In 2022, the park launched the ‘GreenWall’ initiative, aligning with the UAE national’s sustainability vision.⁴⁵