Abu Dhabi: The Shaikh Zayed Heritage Festival beckons all to take a closer look at the country’s long-standing history and cultural heritage.
In an upbeat ceremony, the official opening of the event celebrating all things historical took place with Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs among the dignitaries attending the opening.
The ceremony on Thursday included a montage of video footage of the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, as well as Emiratis performing local customs such as horse and camel riding.
The Shaikh Zayed Heritage Festival will run at Al Wathba until December 12, with the festival showcasing Emirati culture and heritage. Daily activities of craftsmen workshops, traditional military musical shows, camel shows, and Emirati and Gulf folk arts will be on display among many other activities.
The festival will also offer an array of events and exhibitions for visitors to grasp a better understanding of the nation’s heritage:
The Old Village
The old village is a replica of old farming villages in the UAE incorporating their elements and components in their agricultural work
Traditional Customs Exhibition
Visitors will be able to experience Emirati traditional customs, they will experience warm Emirati hospitality.
Arabian Saluki Exhibition
The exhibition will display the various activities as well as an overview of the saluki’s significance to the local heritage. Arabian saluki dogs played a very important role in the past as hunters as well as travelling companions, with ancient Bedouins in the region raising dogs for thousands of years.
Memories of a Nation
This area features historical images of the UAE. It will also pay tribute to the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, showcasing his achievements as well as his inspirational quotes to the nation. The exhibition will also have a dedicated section for oral history and a gallery for sports heritage. Interactive displays as well as holograms will be used.
Ahmad Bin Majid Museum
The museum will showcase the life and achievements of Emirati navigator Ahmad Bin Majid. Bin Majid made several contributions to marine science as well as astronomy, with his work helping navigation in and outside the Arab world. The museum describes his achievements and illustrates his journey, with the museum also being built to stimulate his ship, with a 3D hologram featuring Bin Majid who will narrate his stories to visitors.
— Sami Zaatari is a trainee at Gulf News
