There are plenty of exhibitions that sprout across the region, but there’s nothing like Ataya. The prestigious showcase is held under the patronage and vision of HH Sheikha Shamsa bint Hamdan Al Nahyan, and organized by the UAE Red Crescent. Ataya translates to “giving” in Arabic, and is one of the most highly anticipated, annual charity exhibitions among visitors—and the most sought after to take part in among vendors. The event is open to ladies from May 8th until May 11th with a one-day general admission on May 12th at the IPIC Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Each year, a diverse selection of international and homegrown brands is carefully chosen by a committee and selected to display a variety of fashion, jewelry, lifestyle, and furniture collections. Serving as a platform for emerging talent, previous exhibitors included jewelry designer Nadine Kanso for Bil Arabi, accessories designer Sarah Beydoun for her label Sarah’s Bag, and ready-to-wear Saudi designer Razan Alazzouni behind her namesake brand.
Last year the celebrated exhibition raised up to AED/SAR 8,300,000 (US $2,259,764) with proceeds going towards building and operating a specialist hospital in Northern Iraq. This year, Ataya aims to surpass that amount by raising enough funds to build and operate four schools in war-torn countries. Proceeds are collected by way of exhibitor rental fees, ticket sales, and donations from both visitors and sponsors.
