The 5 Best Destinations for Emirati Culture and History in Abu Dhabi
Experiencing cultural travel involves immersing yourself in the culture, history, and traditions of the place you’re visiting.
This means engaging in certain activities that let you learn more about the
country or city’s people, history, and culture, and not solely on the tourist
attractions.
With these cultural experiences, you can
broaden your knowledge, open your mind to new ways of doing things, expand your
understanding of and connection with humanity, and see the world as it truly
is.
As such, when you visit Abu Dhabi, don’t miss
out on the chance to engage in various cultural experiences to make the most
out of your trip. The city has a wide
array of attractions that let you learn more about the country’s fascinating
culture, history, traditions, and people.
From a presidential palace that showcases the Year of Tolerance in the UAE and
a traditional Bedouin village to a majestic mosque and historical fort, you can
have an illuminating, fun, and memorable cultural experience during your visit
to Abu Dhabi.
Where to Go for Cultural Immersion in Abu Dhabi
If you’re making a list of places to go to for
Emirati cultural and historical immersion in Abu Dhabi, make these five destinations
your priority:
1.
Qasr Al Watan
The United Arab Emirates’ Palace of the
Nation is one of the most culturally enriching places to visit in Abu Dhabi.
Qasr Al Watan, which was opened to the
public in 2019, is the country’s official
presidential palace.
The palace is divided into different zones that allow visitors to
learn about the history, formation and growth of the UAE, as well as Emirati
culture, traditions and values. It also has several areas highlighting the
nation’s meaningful contributions to different fields of knowledge.
Qasr Al Watan’s must-visit zones include:
●
The House of Knowledge
This zone houses a well-curated
collection of treasured artifacts and manuscripts highlighting the Arabian
peninsula’s important contributions to science, arts, literature, and other
fields. It also has an area where you can learn about the origins of Arabian
libraries.
The House of Knowledge is a place where
you can immerse yourself in the country’s culture and history.
●
The Qasr Al Watan Library
The palace library has an impressive
collection of over 50,000 books covering numerous subjects about Arabian
history and culture.
This library was established with the aim
of preserving and sharing centuries of Arabian knowledge and inspiring and
shaping future generations.
●
Year of Tolerance
The UAE declared 2019 as the Year of
Tolerance. To celebrate this, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
invited Pope Francis and Dr. Ahmad Al Tayyeb to visit the country. This
culminated in improved interfaith relations between Christians and Muslims.
This zone displays several memorabilia
from this historical event, which marks the first time a pope ever visited the
Middle East.
Other must-see areas in Qasr Al Watan
include The Great Hall, the Exhibition
of Presidential Gifts, The Presidential Banquet and the Media Room.
2.
Al Jahili Fort
This historic fort, which was built in
the 1890s, underwent a complete restoration in 2007 by the Abu Dhabi Authority
for Culture and Heritage. Since then, it has become a popular cultural
destination in the city.
The massive structure is made entirely out of mud bricks, which is
an amazing display of the workers’ craftsmanship. You’ll be impressed by
the fort battlements and watchtowers as well.
Al Jahili Fort has an exhibit honoring
the renowned British explorer Sir Wilfred Thesiger who explored the Rub Al
Khali desert.
This exhibit
gives you a better understanding of the traditional Bedouin culture and
lifestyle.
3.
Qasr Al Hosn
Qasr Al Hosn is Abu Dhabi’s oldest
building and one of the city’s most important historical landmarks. It is
composed of two major buildings, which are the Inner Fort and the Outer Palace
or the watchtower.
This historical complex has a museum showcasing numerous artifacts
and literature, including some dating back to 6000 BC, highlighting the
exciting growth and development of Abu Dhabi.
Additionally, the complex has a new
attraction, The House of Artisans, where
you can see a collection of fascinating artwork. Here, you can witness the
magnificent art of Sadu, a traditional Bedouin weaving technique.
You can also see khoos (a weaving
technique that turns date palm leaves into baskets and other functional
objects) artisans at work while at The House of Artisans.
4.
Heritage Village
If you want a complete Bedouin cultural
experience, visit the Heritage Village.
The village is home to a traditional mosque, souk and housing, all reminiscent of the
old Bedouin lifestyle. Here, you’ll also see artisans engaged in various
handicrafts like weaving, pottery, metalwork and glassblowing from
scratch.
To complete your Bedouin experience, visit the museum, which houses valuable
Emirati weapons, treasures and jewelry, and the falconry display.
Don’t leave the village without seeing
copies of the original handwritten Quran.
Lastly, drop by the village’s little
spice shop to shop for handmade soaps, dried herbs and other souvenirs you can
take home.
5.
Bait Al Oud
If you want to know more about Arabic
music, Bait Al Oud is your best destination.
Bait Al Oud was established in 2008 with
the aim of preserving and sharing
knowledge about traditional Arabic musical instruments.
This center focuses on the preservation, teaching and study of the
oud, a lute-type stringed instrument dating back to the Akkadian Empire in
ancient Mesopotamia, which is present-day Iraq.
Bait Al Oud also aims to promote the use
of the oud in modern-day music.
Abu Dhabi is teeming with plenty of must-see
attractions and events, including the Middle East Film and Comic Con (MEFCC)
next year. This largest pop culture festival will have a dedicated cosplay central zone where you can
meet professional cosplayers around the
world, and participate in cosplay competitions.
During your visit here, take the time to
immerse yourself in Emirati culture and history to get more out of your trip.
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