National traditional handicrafts festival opens in Al Ain

Al Ain / Emirates Business

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler’s Representative of the Eastern Region, the third National Traditional Handicrafts Festival opened to the public on Wednesday in Souq Al Qattara, in Al Ain city. The opening ceremony was inaugurated by HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, TCA Abu Dhabi Director General, and accompanied by a number of the Authority’s
officials.
HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “As part of TCA Abu Dhabi’s many endeavours in the preservation of heritage, the National Handicrafts Festival is testament to the cultural heritage law passed by HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE, aimed at the safeguarding and protection of tangible and intangible heritage. This festival celebrates symbols of everyday life in the simplest yet most intricate elements of Emirati culture and heritage. It brings familiarity and sense of community, not only through the cultural manifestation and traditional products, but also through the documentation on invaluable wealth of knowledge and skills that are passed down from one generation to the other.”
Held in Souq Al Qattara, in Al Ain, the National Traditional Handicrafts Festival provides visitors with a taste of Emirati heritage in one of the most prominent cultural locations in the city. The Souq was founded by the late Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in the 1950s, on a palm-adorned road linking two of Al Ain’s main oases – Al Qattara Oasis and Al Jimi Oasis. Since its renovation and re-opening to the public, a traditional handicrafts market has been taking place there every week. Today, Al Qattara Souq is dedicated to encouraging local families to sustain their skills through an active participation and production of traditional crafts.
The National Traditional Handicrafts Festival offers an opportunity to explore some traditional techniques that were used in making fabrics and textiles, such as Sadu (a traditional form of weaving), which was inscribed on UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011. Aiming to further expand on the public’s knowledge of traditional Emirati handicrafts and the value to
preserve them, the festival also features a traditional market offering numerous Emirati products including traditional clothing, perfumes, incense, aromatic spices and herbs, traditional gold jewellery, henna, sweets and Emirati cuisine.
Running until November 12, the National Traditional Handicrafts Festival will include
Falconry displays, craftsmen presentations, student tours and art workshops, surrounding Al Qattara Arts Centre. With a number of live traditional performances, and a variety of educational activities and cultural programmes, this annual celebration represents an integral part of the United Arab Emirates culture and history, shaped by the land and desert landscape, and reviving its skillful ingenuity and traditional value in the hearts of the nation.