Abu Dhabi: General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has ordered the setting up of a permanent heritage village at the Shaikh Zayed Heritage Festival.
The establishment of the year-long heritage village was announced by Shaikh Sultan Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, Adviser to the President and Chairman of the UAE Camel Racing Association and Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of the Zayed festival.
The festival, which began on November 20, concluded on Wednesday after attracting more than 60,000 Emirati and expatriate families throughout its 20-day period.
Shaikh Sultan lauded the resounding success achieved by the festival and thanked Shaikh Mohammad for ordering the establishment of the permanent heritage village at the festival.
He said the festival is a celebration of the UAE’s rich heritage, praising the keenness of the UAE leadership to utilise the potential to pass on this authentic heritage from ancestors to younger generations, thus enhancing the national identity and social cohesion.
The festival, held at the Al Wathba camel racetrack, is a feast of cultural and entertainment activities, including camel races, horse parades, falconry competitions, and a camel milking competition; a heritage village, folkloric performances, a traditional souq and Emirati handicrafts exhibition; and a fun park for children, an innovative ladies tent, and a classic car exhibition.
