Abu Dhabi hosts 23rd IIFA movie night

The 23rd edition of the International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) is taking place in Abu Dhabi this weekend.

In a partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Miral, the celebration of Indian Cinema will be held at Etihad Arena.

IIFA 2023 will kickstart the celebration with Sobha IIFA Rocks on Friday, hosted by Farah Khan Kunder and Rajkummar Rao and will feature performances by Amit Trivedi, along with several popular singers, Badshah, Sunidhi Chauhan, Nucleya and Sukhbir Singh.

The highly awaited special addition this year to the Sobha IIFA Rocks is the premiere of an exclusive showcase by leading celebrity designer, Manish Malhotra, who is celebrating 25 years in the fashion industry.

The Nexa IIFA Awards will take place on Saturday and will be hosted by Abhishek Bachchan and Vicky Kaushal along with performances by Bollywood superstars Salman Khan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon, Nora Fatehi and Rakul Preet Singh.

One of the highlights of the Sobha IIFA weekend is a set of masterclasses designed for film buffs, aspiring filmmakers and enthusiasts. The masterclass series features Director’s Cut with Kabir Khan and Omung Kumar along with a session by celebrity hair and make-up artist Nabila.

Commenting on the event, Saleh Mohamed Saleh Al Geziry, Director-General of Tourism, DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “We are pleased to host the IIFA Awards once again in Abu Dhabi since it marks a significant turning point for our dynamic entertainment calendar.

"Our relationship with India, which is based on shared cultural and economic interests, has been boosted even further by the fact that Abu Dhabi has served as the setting for a number of Bollywood blockbusters, allowing people all over the world to learn about our stunning country."