India to be guest of honour at UAE festival

India will be the 'guest of honour' country at the UAE's prestigious month-long annual cultural festival, the largest classical arts event in the Gulf region.
The festival celebrating art and culture will see the participation of over 500 international artistes and 40 composers from 30 countries in March next year.
Eminent Indian artists, including musician Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and, dancer and choreographer Gilles Chuyen, will attend the festival.
Navdeep Suri, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, said that it is a matter of pride that India has been chosen as the 'Guest of Honour' for the 2018 edition of Abu Dhabi Festival.

"By collaborating with Abu Dhabi Festival (ADF) 2018, we hope to supplement these efforts to take Indian culture mainstream and make sure that there is a much better understanding of an India beyond Bollywood. That is why the focus is on showcasing some of India's magnificent diversity," he said.
Suri expressed hope that ADF 2018 will provide opportunity to non-Indians to enjoy Indian culture and Indians to enjoy cultures of participating countries.