Al Ain’s celebration of Emirati cultural heritage has successfully concluded after an initial five month run. Activities that included poetry, music, tours, and an international equestrian show drew more than 230,000 visitors to the programme.
Organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, events at multiple venues across Al Ain introduced a variety of community-focused activities to the city’s most popular sites, building awareness of the breadth and diversity of Al Ain’s heritage attractions.
Designed to provide interactive methods of learning about the Emirate’s cherished history, the first phase of Al Ain’s diverse and engaging programme was introduced in January 2017 and will make a much-anticipated return in September.
The full programme was curated to support the UNESCO theme ‘Protecting our Heritage and Fostering Creativity,’ and designed to highlight Al Ain as the cultural heartland of the Emirates and the home to the UAE’s only UNESCO World Heritage site, encompassing several iconic locations including Al Ain Oasis, Al Jahili Fort, Qasr Al Muwaiji, Al Ain National Museum, Al Ain Palace Museum and Al Qattara Arts Centre. Al Ain is one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited cities, fusing the spirit of the past with a lively and contemporary vision for the future.
Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director-General of TCA Abu Dhabi, said, "The launch of this year’s Al Ain Cultural Programme has proven a great success, bringing in close to a quarter of a million visitors. The programme highlighted the vibrant cultural scene by increasing the visitor’s number to Al Ain city, and sought to revive the national identity of the Emirate by providing residents and visitors a deep insight into the arts and culture scene of the United Arab Emirates, from past to present".
Although the 2017 event programme has ended, visitors’ adventures into Al Ain continue with the Collage Exhibition, showcasing 23 artists’ mixed media works in Al Qattara Arts Centre until 15th June, and the anticipated Comic Art Group Exhibition, displaying UAE-based artists’ comics, animations and pop art in Al Qattara Arts Centre, due to open later in the summer.
The Al Ain cultural programme will return in September with more announcements to come and can be found on the Visit Al Ain website.

Source: WAM