Al Hosn Festival returns tomorrow with exciting programme

ABU DHABI/ WAM

Al Hosn Festival, Abu Dhabi’s annual celebration of cultural heritage, is returning from 19th to 28th January, 2024, to the historic Al Hosn site.
Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the platform offers visitors a diverse programme bringing together heritage, arts and creativity. It features artisan demonstrations, live music, traditional activities, culinary experiences, educational workshops, and an inspiring public programme.
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, said, “Al Hosn Festival is Abu Dhabi’s flagship heritage platform that advances our mission to showcase Emirati cultural heritage and cultural creativity. The festival is curated by focusing on educational and informative tools that allow visitors to immerse themselves in our cultural practices. There is an opportunity to discover how our heritage informs our modern lives, exploring how it is reinterpreted by the UAE’s talented artisans, artists, and creative minds.”
For a window into the traditional way of community life, Al Freej (‘neighbourhood’ in Emirati Arabic) is a replica of old residential alleys with gathering points and dukkans (shops). Here visitors can explore craft demonstrations, including incense-making, textile dyeing, henna, talli, sadu, pottery and burqa making, palm weaving and drying, as well as the making of fish traps and nets (gargoor). This year’s programme also includes Makers Space: Emirati Home Edition, a creative area showcasing the work of traditional artisans, contemporary artists, furniture designers, and makers of essential items that define the Emirati home.
In the Heritage Zone, creative and educational activities and reenactments will depict the UAE’s traditions and customs. Meanwhile, those looking for some retail therapy will enjoy perusing the stalls at Souk Al Sough, with jewellery and fragrances among the many options.
Visitors can head to the camel area to experience Heda’a, a camel-calling tradition passed down through generations and included in the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. They can interact with these fascinating animals and learn how herders work with and care for them. Also at the festival are falconry demonstrations and encounters with Salukis, traditional hunting dogs.
This year, the agenda of the Festival includes the House of Artisans, which will present Al Rowayeb, a henna design space that invites attendees to learn about the historical, artistic, and cultural aspects of the craft and its significance to Emirati culture, as well as have their henna designs done. Similarly, the Gahwa Championships is returning this year to award winners for their outstanding skills in preparing traditional Arabic coffee.
Among other highlights, especially for children, is Beit Beit, a special programme by the Abu Dhabi Children’s Library where young ones can learn to play traditional games invented before the introduction of technology and mobile devices.
Annually, the festival attracts an increasing number of makers and vendors, indicating growing competition and a rise in quality, reflecting its positive impact on the cultural and creative landscape.
Al Hosn Festival embraces and fosters Abu Dhabi’s Cultural and Creative Industries strategy, actively enhancing Abu Dhabi’s global cultural presence and driving economic and cultural growth by supporting and showcasing a diverse array of creative enterprises. It is a vital platform for local creatives and cultural practitioners to engage with the business world, gather consumer insights, and encourage networking and collaboration. This vibrant environment is ideal for inspiring innovation and testing new ideas.