Al Ain Heritage Festival Welcomes Hazza Bin Zayed For Inaugural Cultural Celebration

Al Ain Heritage Festival is under way at ADNEC Centre Al Ain, running until 9th February 2026 under the theme Tales from Our Heritage. H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Ain Region, attended the opening, underscoring Al Ain’s growing role as a centre for culture and heritage.

The festival serves as a broad cultural platform that highlights authentic Emirati heritage for residents and visitors. A diverse programme features live heritage shows, traditional cooking activities, and heritage-themed artistic, poetic and theatrical evenings, designed to connect different generations with longstanding customs and shared community values.

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At the Outdoor Performance Arena, visitors watch falconry displays and Arabian saluki shows that demonstrate traditional skills. Nearby cooking areas present Emirati, Gulf and Arab cuisine through live demonstrations, while traditional art performances add further context to daily life in earlier periods across the UAE and the wider region.

During the visit, H.H. Sheikh Hazza toured key pavilions and activities that reflect the variety of Emirati heritage. The programme includes the Honey Village, traditional handicraft displays, folk art performances and Emirati cooking demonstrations, alongside interactive educational programmes aimed at children and families to encourage participation and learning about national traditions.

A major stop on the tour is the Date Festival, which places date palm trees at the centre of the narrative. A dedicated Date Market showcases eight competitions for select varieties, promoting quality produce and heritage farming practices linked to Al Ain’s agricultural landscape and long-standing oasis systems.

The competitions focus on Elite Al Ain, Khalas, Shishi, Zamli, Boumaan, Dabbas, Fard and Wahat dates. Producers present samples in a structured setting, which supports knowledge exchange about cultivation and post-harvest methods. The Date Festival also illustrates the economic role of dates in family livelihoods and regional trade networks.

Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed the importance of organising heritage and cultural events that embody a national commitment to strengthening the role of heritage, safeguarding community values, and integrating them into daily life as an integral part of the national identity. The statement aligns with wider efforts to link heritage with contemporary community development.

H.H. Sheikh Hazza was accompanied by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Abdulla Mubarak Al Muhairi, Acting Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority; and a number of officials. Their presence underlined institutional support for Al Ain Heritage Festival, which is organised by the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority to preserve Emirati traditions and reinforce national values.

With activities scheduled at ADNEC Centre Al Ain until 9th February 2026, the Al Ain Heritage Festival offers ongoing opportunities for residents, tourists and schools to engage directly with Emirati heritage. The event strengthens Al Ain’s standing as a cultural hub dedicated to conserving traditions while keeping them visible in modern public life.

With inputs from WAM