The Qasr Al Hosn Festival, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), is presenting as part of its public engagement programme intangible cultural heritage elements that have been recognised by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) on its Representative Listof the IntangibleCultural Heritage of Humanity.

Offering visitors a complete immersive cultural experience, the Qasr Al Hosn Festival programme is currently hosting live exhibits of Majlis, Gahwa, Al Razfa, Falconry, Al Taghrooda, Al Ayyala and Al Sadu. All these cultural practices are integrated in a range of interactive activations and workshops throughout the Festival in the different popular zones - Desert, Oasis, Marine and Abu Dhabi Island, as well as in the Cultural Foundation and Qasr Al Hosn Fort.

Reem al Mansouri, Public Engagement Programmer at TCA Abu Dhabi said: We take pride in the fact that Qasr Al Hosn Festival is the embodiment of our effort as a nation to preserve our heritage. Conservation specialists are working tirelessly to safeguard the Qasr Al Hosn Fort and the Cultural Foundation Building. In parallel, a wide programme curated by cultural and heritage specialists is reflecting our intangible heritage and by 

Visitors can experience and be exposed to the seven cultural practices represented on the UNESCO list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

Majlis, or place of sitting is a community area where people can engage in stories, debates and socialise. As a traditional method of knowledge sharing, Al Majlis defines the essence of culture, communication and community in Emirati society and plays an important role in the transmission of oral heritage. Visitors can gain unique personal recollections of the history of the Fort and the UAE at a number of sites across the Festival grounds.

The 'Gahwaal (or Arabic coffee) experience, set up in a beautiful contemporary setting of the Cultural Foundation Building, celebrates the intangible heritage of Emirati coffee making and symbolises generosity and hospitality in Arab societies. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn all about the shared coffee drinking tradition and community values.

Al Razfa, a traditional performing art that combines music, chanted poetry and rhythmic movement originally used in victory celebrations in the UAE, is now considered a popular form of community celebration. Visitors will get to see Al Razfa frequently during the Festival and understand how new generations are safeguarding this tradition through community observation and participation.

In the cultural tradition of Falconry, falconers develop a strong and spiritual bond with their falcons, as they train and care for them. Visitors will get a chance to handle the falcons to understand how the skills of falconry are passed on and taught as a cultural tradition, enjoy an exhibition from the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital and learn about the Sheikh Zayed Falcon Release Programme.

Visitors will also witness the renowned Emirati traditional performance, Al Ayyala, which is represented by two rows of men facing each other holding bamboo sticks as they chant poetry and move rhythmically to the beat of a drum. The performance symbolises the love and loyalty of a tribe to its nation. Nowadays, it is performed in national celebrations and weddings.

Al Taghrooda is a form of chanted poetry that is considered a traditional performing art and a symbol of cultural creativity of the UAE. Bedouins would chant poetry on camelback to entertain each other and as a way of passing the time, or to create social bonds at tribal festivities, weddings or around the campfire.

Practiced by women in rural communities of the UAE, Al Sadu is a distinctive form of weaving and involves the making of fine furniture, as well as decorative accessories featuring lines and geometric patterns in bold traditional colours. Visitors to the Festival can learn about the importance of this cultural practice and the complex social interaction between the women as they weave. This practice continues to be passed from generation to generation.

More on the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

UNESCO's Representative List recognises intangible cultural practices as important traditions such as music, poetry and dance that need to be preserved. The List includes what is referred to as intangible cultural heritage the cultural traditions, practices, and expressions that are passed down through generations within a culture. The List serves to raise awareness of the importance of these cultural practices as well as to protect these traditions against the ever-growing globalisation.

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