Abu Dhabi Science Festival 2016 has drawn to a close for another year with more than 110,000 visitors enjoying more than 67 mind-expanding activities and new workshops.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and organised by the Abu Dhabi Education Council, ADEC, the festival, part of UAE Innovation Week, inspired young minds to look at the world through inquisitive eyes and helped their learning development.

Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, Director-General of ADEC, said, "With each passing year, the ADSF continues to offer our youth exposure to the wondrous world of science, with a variety of fun, exposure and scientific activities. The festival has been successful in sparking our children’s curiosity, building their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, and supporting the government’s mission to develop an innovative talent base, equipped with 21st century skills, in the crucial industries of science and technology."

ADSF, which has attracted more than 700,000 visitors over the years, once again reached out to local schools with its popular School Tours Programme that was organised for 15,000 students from 130 schools to visit the festival for a more in-depth educational experience. The school visit scheme is an integral part of the festival and provided children with the opportunity to connect fun activities with science and technology learning.

The festival also witnessed remarkably high audience engagement from visiting children and their families who attended multiple workshops and activities across the 10-day event and shared their experiences on the festival’s social media platforms.