Abu Dhabi, January 07: Under the patronage of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) is organizing a unique Traditional Market as part of Al Dhafra Festival to be held in Zayed City, in Al Gharbia (the Western Region of Abu Dhabi) from 30 January – 8 February 2010.
The Traditional Market will be held alongside the festival to celebrate handicraft products of the UAE and the region. It aims to increase the awareness of the deep-rooted heritage of Abu Dhabi and the Gulf region, and to safeguard the traditional UAE handicrafts, as well as promoting it to make sure it survives through future generations.
The Market will be held on a 12,000 sqm area with 180 different shops furnished using mud, wood and palm fronds. It will offer handicraft products and traditional food. A popular café and children’s tents will also feature in the market.
The Organizing Committee has paved the way for Emirati ladies to participate in the market through a well-defined procedure. The age group is between eighteen and sixty-six, which will allow the young to learn from the elderly the traditions of making goods and will encourage old ladies to pass their knowledge of these handicrafts on to younger generations.
ADACH, through its pioneering support project, aims to revive interest in handicraft products and to produce them in sufficient quantities to be able to market them both locally and internationally. The project aspires to document and develop handicraft in Abu Dhabi, to encourage practicing the skills of the forefathers, to develop products to match the requirements of modern times, and to re-energise the handicraft sector as an important economic sector, especially for women.
Archeological discoveries in the UAE indicate that practicing handicraft was rife in the region as far back as 7,000 years ago. Graves and ruins in Umm Al Nar site in Abu Dhabi and Hilli in Al Ain contained tools and pottery (with distinguished ornate designs), jewelry and various items made of marble. These discoveries also indicated that there has been a continuation in the methods used in producing handicrafts.
Eight handicrafts hold prime interest in the UAE: pottery; palm fronds weaving; sadu (wool weaving); yarns; telli (ornate works); jewelry; leather works; carpentry and ship building.
—Agencies