Native Plants In The UAE Exhibition Connects Past Heritage With Present Sustainability Efforts

The Sharjah Museums Authority has opened an exhibition titled "Native Plants in the UAE: The Roots of the Past to the Shades of the Present" at the Sharjah Heritage Museum. This exhibition will be available for visitors until 30th April, 2026. It aims to highlight the environmental and cultural importance of native plants in the UAE.

During the opening ceremony, guests embarked on a journey to explore the significance of these plants. A workshop on making "sidr soap" was part of this experience, showcasing how local plants are used in traditional crafts and natural products.

The exhibition features 46 plant species, including Ghaf (Prosopis cineraria), Sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi), Arta (Calligonum comosum), and Moringa peregrina. These plants were crucial in historical daily life, providing food, medicine, and shelter. They also played a role in traditional crafts and industries that shaped Emirati culture.

Visitors can learn about desert, mountain, and coastal plant varieties. The exhibition explains how environmental conditions influence their growth and how they were historically used in crafts and daily activities.

The exhibition also highlights how these plants appear in oral literature and popular heritage, showing their importance in Emirati society's collective memory. This connection between nature and culture is central to understanding national identity.

Aisha Rashid Deemas, Director-General of the Sharjah Museums Authority, stated that this exhibition reflects Sharjah’s cultural vision by linking natural heritage with national identity. It aims to raise public awareness about environmental conservation and sustainability values.

Interactive Learning Opportunities

To enhance educational value, interactive workshops will be held throughout the exhibition period. Starting on 15th November 2025, these workshops will offer hands-on experiences with traditional uses of native plants in crafts, art, and beauty.

This initiative seeks to connect younger generations with sustainability principles and encourage them to appreciate natural resources. By engaging with native flora through these workshops, visitors can gain a deeper understanding of their cultural heritage.

With inputs from WAM