UAE partners with Arab countries to nominate henna for UNESCO heritage list

The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi) is working with the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (Alecso) to nominate the traditional practice of henna art for inclusion in UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Earlier this month, the three government agencies hosted representatives from 16 Arab countries to discuss nominations.

“The UAE attaches great importance to the practices that highlight our Emirati identity and present them to the world,” said Mubarak Al Nahi, Deputy Minister of Culture and Youth. “Incorporating this element of our heritage into UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage The Representative Directory is an important step in highlighting the role of henna in our Arab and Gulf cultures and identities, which are shared by many other cultures around the world.”

The meeting and the planned henna nominations are part of DCT Abu Dhabi’s efforts to promote and preserve the UAE’s national heritage and identity. Al Nakhi said that in the UAE and throughout the region, henna has been used in the fields of medicine and decoration.

“It is a special symbol for social occasions, the embodiment of celebrations, and a special vehicle for expressing joy and special moments.”

The UAE has been working since 2010 to incorporate practices, expressions, expressions, knowledge and skills that are part of the region’s cultural fabric, with International Falcon being successfully included in the UNESCO list.

Since then, the UAE has also joined Al-Taghrooda, a form of impromptu poetry; Al-Ayyala, traditional dances in the UAE and northwest Oman; Al-Razfa, including traditional performances of dance and poetry; Parliament as community members to discuss local Meeting place for events, exchanging news and receiving guests; Gahwa (Arabic coffee); palm trees; camel racing and Arabic calligraphy.

“We are proud of our traditions and cultural practices,” said Saood Abdulaziz Al Hosani, Deputy Minister of DCT Abu Dhabi. “The cultural and historical ties between Arab nations are deep, and it is through cooperation with our neighbors that our efforts to preserve and document our customs and traditions are strengthened and expanded.”

Updated: September 21, 2022 at 11:13 am