Traditional Crafts and Industries Festival: Celebrating UAE’s Ancient Heritage

The ninth edition of the Traditional Crafts and Industries Festival returns under the slogan “Craft of Ancestors, Pride of Grandchildren,” attracting an increasing number of craftsmen and business owners in the field nationwide.

The festival will be held in Al Qattara Market in Al Ain under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Al Ain Region, and organized by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi over a period of 20 days from November 1 to 20.

This year’s edition of the festival features a program full of live cultural events, activities, workshops, and performances that celebrate the UAE’s ancient heritage of traditional crafts and industries, and encourage their preservation and development, while highlighting the most prominent talented craftsmen in this sector.

In addition to promoting traditional crafts, the festival works closely with families active in this field by supporting them and helping them adapt to the renewed market requirements. More than 100 families participate in the festival, which aims to increase their income through marketing efforts and encourage them to innovate in their products.

Saeed Hamad Al Kaabi, Director of the Intangible Heritage Department at the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “The Traditional Crafts and Industries Festival is an ideal platform to highlight our rich cultural heritage and preserve our ancient traditions. The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi constantly strives to preserve our traditional heritage and ensure that the enormous wealth of knowledge and skills possessed by artisans is transferred to younger generations. This event focuses on supporting talented people in this field, by providing them with new professional and creative opportunities, providing them with the necessary tools and means to develop their crafts, and introducing them to a wide range, ensuring that they establish a prosperous professional life concerned with authentic traditional arts.”

Visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy live craft demonstrations that showcase the traditional tools and methods used to create a range of beautiful and unique Emirati handicrafts, in addition to performances by folk bands and traditional singers, dance performances such as Al-Ayyala, interactive heritage and cultural programs, competitions, falconry demonstrations, and a market that sells… A variety of traditional crafts, clothes, foods, etc. The festival hosts a number of distinguished concerts, as part of the Emirati Song Memory series, performed by Mohammed Al Menhali, Hazza Al Raisi, Abdul Moneim Al Ameri, and Ruqaya Maghi.

Saeed Hamad Al Kaabi:

• “The festival is an ideal platform to highlight our rich cultural heritage and preserve our ancient traditions.”

2023-10-20 22:05:38
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