ABU DHABI – The Heritage Village, part of the activities of the Sheikh Zayed Festival, is offering visitors a vivid depiction of Emirati heritage and traditions.
The Heritage Village, located at the heart of the Sheikh Zayed Festival grounds, is showcasing the UAE’s heritage through a replica of the four main environments where the Emirati civilization settled and flourished: the marine environment, the desert environment, the mountain environment, and the agricultural environment. Each replica gives visitors glimpses of early life in the UAE through life-sized mock-ups that were created to reflect the realities of those environments.
The Heritage Village, which bears the message “Hayakom”, meaning “Welcome” in Emirati dialect, is designed by the unique traditional architecture. The gates are models of military building designs from ancient times that served as protection from outside threats.
The Heritage Village is an exceptional stop that takes visitors away from the present world and transport them to the simplicity of life in early times, with their mud and palm leaf houses that evokes nostalgia and conjures interest in the roots of UAE culture.
The Heritage Village is the fruit of cooperation between several government bodies that aim to preserve and showcase Emirati culture to the public, mainly: General Women’s Union, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation, Emirates Falconers Club, Abu Dhabi’s Arabian Saluki Centre, Emirates Heritage Club, and Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club.
The Heritage Village features a UAE Heritage Studio that allows tourists and visitors to take memorable photos in traditional Emirati clothing for both women and men. The studio offers a traditional grocery shop, “Al Dukan”, which features all kinds of old food items that are nostalgic to Emiratis, and a henna tinting station where visitors can experience application of the oldest and most common cosmetic substance that is still in use today.
The Heritage Village has a wide variety of arts and crafts options like pottery, sharp tools and traditional garments to familiarise the public with the way of life of their Emirati ancestors.