Department Of Culture And Tourism – Abu Dhabi Announces 11th Traditional Handicrafts Festival, Highlighting Authentic Emirati Craftsmanship
Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) proudly announces the return of the Traditional Handicrafts Festival for its 11th edition, promising a journey into the heart of Emirati heritage and craftsmanship. Taking place from 1 November to 20 November at Al Ain Region’s historic Souq Al Qattara, this year’s event is themed ‘A Journey through Community Traditional Craftsmanship’, as part of the UAE’s Year of Community.
Dedicated to empowering artisans, the annual celebration works closely with families in the handicrafts industry, offering support to meet modern consumer demands and nurturing new career opportunities for innovation and product expansion. It creates a rich environment where visitors can engage in meaningful conversations with artisans through activities designed for genuine connection and cultural exchange.
His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, commented: “As we mark more than a decade of the Traditional Handicrafts Festival, our commitment to preserving and celebrating Emirati heritage has never been stronger. This festival is an exhibition of craftmanship and a living expression of our culture, where tradition meets community and creativity.Connecting the rich tapestry of our past with the living heritage of our present, it has grown into a landmark event on Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar, drawing visitors from across the Emirates and the Gulf region to witness the skills of our artisans and the stories behind them. In this Year of the Community, the festival is a testament to the power of heritage to unite us, inspire pride, and ensure our identity thrives for generations to come.”
In addition to crafts demonstrations, visitors of all ages can look forward to a diverse programme including traditional performing arts, engaging games, exciting competitions, educational heritage workshops and a wide selection of authentic Emirati and contemporary culinary delights.
At the heart of the festival are the four dedicated Heritage Crafts Pavilions, each spotlighting Emirati craftsmanship. The Emirati Gahwa Pavilion celebrates the nation’s traditions of hospitality, where visitors can experience the making and serving rituals of gahwa, enhanced by live demonstrations, storytelling, and even children’s workshops. The Traditional Weaving Pavilion showcases time-honoured techniques such as Al-Sadu and Khous, enriched with artisan storytelling and hands-on weaving experiences for visitors of all ages. At the Traditional Fashion Pavilion, the focus shifts to traditional clothing, adornments, and fragrances, with live demonstrations of perfume blending, incense making, tailoring, and jewellery crafting, offering a sensory journey into Emirati beauty traditions. Completing the quartet, the Metal & Leather Crafts Pavilion highlights the essential crafts of forging and leatherworking, where master artisans demonstrate the creation of swords, daggers, and household items, bringing to life the craftmanship embedded in these skills.
Training and knowledge transfer is a significant focus this year, with the event inviting guests of all ages to participate in engaging workshops and educational programmes, fostering hands-on learning and cultural exchange that secures the sustainability of Emirati craftsmanship for younger generations. The festival also features the Mawhibaty Programme, which showcases the creative talents of Emirati youth, and Sounds of the UAE, a programme celebrating the nation’s musical heritage through performances by Emirati artists.Finally, in the Marketplacevisitors can explore handmade products and indulge in traditional food and drinkat the F&B Zone, providing a platform for the productive families of Al Ain Region to showcase their skills, sustain their livelihoods, and pass their knowledge to future generations.
Visitors are invited to explore the immersive Jimi Oasis Trail and Al Qattara Oasis Trail, a living heritage experience extending into the UNESCO World Heritage landscape of Al Qattara Oasis.Introduced this year in celebration of Al Ain Region’s designation as the Gulf Tourism Capital 2025,this new activation transforms the historic setting into an extension of the festival, blending the shared traditions of the region with the unique cultural and natural heritage of Al Ain Region. Spanning 1400 metres, the route guides visitors through themed zones, each designed to deepen connections to GCCheritage and creativity. Visitors can experience cultural programmes showcasing generations of craftsmanship, discover ingenious ancient irrigation systems and learn through interactive displays. The journey continues into the oasiswhere creativity comes alive through clay crafts and traditional architecture, and the resourcefulness of date palms are celebrated as a symbol of community and connection across the Gulf. Each zone provides unforgettable experiences that underscore the commitment to preserving and sharing Emirati and wider GCC culture, positioning Al Ain Region as a premier cultural destination.
Within the Al Jimi Oasis Trail and Al Qattara Oasis Trail are art installations from Manar Abu Dhabi, the biannual light art exhibition which has returned under the theme The Light Compass. The exhibition reimagines light as more than illumination. It is memory, orientation, and relation, rooted in ancestral ways of navigating the Gulf’s skies and seas. The exhibition features artworks that explore the material, poetic, and technological dimensions of light, mapping it across diverse landscapes. Through immersive installations, projection mapping, and illuminated natural features, the exhibition offers a captivating exploration of light’s power.
Other immersive experiences include traditional performances and games tournaments, along with the first-ever traditional games tournament dedicated to People of Determination.
The festival’s partners include the Department of Community Development, Department of Municipalities and Transport, Ma’an Authority for Social Contribution, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Authority, Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, Tadweer Group, and Abu Dhabi Mobility.
The Traditional Handicrafts Festival is a testament to Abu Dhabi’s commitment in safeguarding its rich cultural legacy and fostering a dynamic cultural ecosystem. The festival shares the emirate’s authentic identity and traditions with a global audience, while empowering local artisans and ensuring the continuity of invaluable skills across generations.
The Traditional Handicrafts Festival is open from 8am to 1pm for students, and from 4pm to 11pm for the general public. Entry is free of charge.
