Dubai: Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) is organizing ‘Al Shindagha Days’ to promote Emirati maritime heritage. The festival is also aimed at promoting the sea’s impact on community life, its beauty, and its history through diverse activities, heritage performances, and interactive workshops.
The festival, taking place from November 24 to December 3, 2023, features cultural experiences, artistic performances, and heritage displays that re-enact and embody the traditional life in Dubai. It deepens the public’s relationship with these elements and enhances their knowledge of Al Shindagha Historic Neighbourhood and its potential.
Heritage plays a significant role in community development, the preservation of national identity, and its establishment in the minds of the younger generations. The sea is one of the main pillars of Emirati heritage, revealing the depth of the relationship between Dubai and its residents with the sea. This is reflected in the variety of activities showcased during the festival, which portray traditional lifestyles, crafts, and artisanal practices presented in a modern and vibrant manner that reflects their authenticity and the rich history of Dubai.”
Mr.Abdalla Al Obeidli, Acting Manager of Al Shindagha Museum, shared.
The festival, which will be held under the theme ‘Celebrating Our Culture of the Sea,’ provides visitors with an opportunity to participate in a wide range of workshops inspired by local crafts, including boat building, weaving, and pearl diving.
Through these workshops, the audience will have the opportunity to learn about traditional boat-building techniques, sails, ropes, the making of ‘Gargour’ fishing nets, the process of pearl diving, and even practice ‘Burga Making’. They can also discover the secrets of making incense, dukhoon, and henna.
The festival’s agenda includes a workshop on ‘Nahma writing and performing’, which allows visitors to compose an ‘Al Nahma’ Visitors can experience the vibrancy of the creek and learn about the lives of Emirati fishermen and the details of their maritime equipment.
Furthermore, the audience can enjoy a variety of interactive performances inspired by traditional coastal music as well as folklore shows.