The Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival, the annual celebration of the culture and traditions of the UAE, will this year be held from 20th November until 12th December.
Named in honour of HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the late President of the UAE, the festival will be divided into the four main environments of the country – desert, oasis, sea and mountain.
This year’s festival will focus on many aspects of the local culture as well as Emirati historical figures that contributed to the academic and cultural growth of the nation.
“We are the people who have inherited the traditions and history that form the roots of our beloved country,” said HE Humaid Al Neyadi, General Manager of HH Sheikh Mansour’s Private Office and Vice Chairman of the Higher Organising Committee of the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival. “This festival is the gateway to transfer the UAE’s rich heritage to upcoming generations and to the world.”
Highlights of the festival include the Memories of a Nation Wing featuring historical films about the UAE and an international village market that presents displays from the many cultures that call the UAE home.
Majidi bin Dhaher, the renowned Nabati poet who died in 1623, will come to life through 3D holograms and poetry recitals at a dedicated exhibition in the desert environment.
The main exhibition in the sea environment will portray the life and accomplishments of the famous Arab navigator and mapmaker Ahmad bin Majid. A brilliant seaman who is remembered for his contributions to marine science, ibn Majid was the author of nearly forty works of poetry and prose.
An exhibition about the history of the falaj will educate visitors to the oasis section about the pioneering irrigation system devised by early Emiratis to transport water from boreholes to fields.
In the mountain environment, a replica of the oldest known mosque in the UAE, Fujairah’s Al Bidya Mosque (built around 1446), will include an exhibit showing how it was erected.
A dhow-building workshop, a date factory and more will explore the ancient lifestyle of Emiratis. Several areas will be dedicated to purebred Arabian horses, camels, falcons and Saluki dogs, while the stage will host daily poetry evenings and competitions.
For more information visit: www.zayedfestival.com
