Fishing lessons, Emirati traditional games: 5 things to do at Abu Dhabi Maritime Heritage Festival – News

The event kicks off on February 17th and runs until February 26th

Abu Dhabi’s newest heritage event, the Maritime Heritage Festival, kicked off on 17 February.

Organized by the Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), the event celebrates traditional Emirati coastal life, recreating historic coastline trading communities where visitors can witness age-old techniques such as dhow building. The ten-day event combines stories from the past, historical reenactments, workshops for children, exclusive merchandise, a market, traditional games and local food.

The festival is divided into several areas, including fishing villages and trading villages. Here’s a breakdown of the top happenings during the festival, which runs until February 26, 2023.

The fishing village has several fish-focused events, including a fisherman’s market where visitors can learn about how fishing was done in the early days and an auction. There is a daily auction where visitors can learn about how the fish is cured and spiced, as well as the properties that make the fish more or less expensive for businesses and retailers.

The highlight is the opportunity to sample the freshest catch at the Live Cooking Station kiosk, where visitors can purchase their choice of seafood and have it grilled or fried on-site.

In addition, there are fishing crafts where skilled artisans create fishing gear, a live falconry council where audiences have the opportunity to pose for photos with falcons, and historical reenactments of the challenges faced by ancestors as they took on the challenge. ocean.

In the Trading Village, visitors can experience the world of pearl harvesting and trading first-hand at the Pearl Exhibit. They had the opportunity to meet and discuss topics of interest with renowned experts, including Al Tawwash, Abu Dhabi’s iconic pearl sailor.

Visitors can also explore the time-honored fashions of the UAE and the embroidery on various garments, buy cloth in the floating market, learn about traditional medicine and ancient methods of curing diseases, and learn how traditional crafts such as the burqa, henna, and butter are made .

Festive beach area – Al Seefah hosts many fun events. The Emirates Heritage Club is organizing the Maritime Heritage Festival Rowing Championships, five 40-foot races over four days. The teams will compete from Al Mina to the Traditional Games Arena. The winner will be awarded the title of champion at the final ceremony.

At the Emirates Heritage Club, visitors will be able to watch a spectacular display of beautiful dhows as they sail towards Al Seefah and parade along the shoreline.

There’s even boatbuilding on the shore, with a group of local boat builders setting up the foundations of a typical wooden racing boat to highlight the craftsmanship used by coastal communities in the past. Live demos also include building a dhow, oars and sails.

Every day from 4pm to 7pm, traditional games tournaments for schoolchildren will allow them to take part in a range of sports and games that have been passed down through the UAE for generations – and from 7pm the public can get involved too! There will also be traditional performances by Emirati performers, giving audiences a taste of popular forms of dance, music and poetry.

On the festival scene, you’ll find a daily program of traditional and contemporary music, as well as other performing arts that are part of the UAE’s maritime culture. There’s everything from the Al-Ayyala beachfront show to interactive audio-visual storytelling, Jalsat shows and even flash mobs.

Dive into the heart of Emirati trade in bazaars, trading and fishing villages and promenades throughout the site.look for traditional all Childhood treats, traditional accessories and clothing, agarwood and perfumes, traditional dolls, and contemporary designs from artisan homes, which are hard to find in modern supermarkets.

The Maritime Heritage Festival is located on Abu Dhabi’s Corniche in A’l Bahar. Visitors are encouraged to drop off or carpool due to limited on-site parking, but they can park on the opposite side of A’l Bahar and cross the road via the pedestrian underground tunnel.

Holiday opening hours are Sunday to Thursday 4pm to 11pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, the event runs until midnight.

Tickets can be purchased online. The price is AED 30 for adults and AED 15 for children (5 to 12 years). Admission is free for children under 5 and those of determination.