Preserving the Emirati National Identity

Intangible Heritage Initiatives Throughout the UAE

Oct 11, 2009

The UAE is known for its rapid growth and groundbreaking development. UAE leaders are hoping their heritage initiatives will make the Emirati cultural equally renown.

There is a lot of buzz about the modern United Arab Emirates (UAE), but little about its history. The recent meeting of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, highlights the necessity of the cultural preservation initiatives currently underway throughout the UAE.

UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee Meeting

For five days 400 delegates from the 114 countries who signed the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Heritage of 2003 met to determine traditions in immediate danger of extinction. The traditions under consideration included 12 applications submitted prior to the meeting as well as hundreds more submitted throughout. Only 8 nations are represented amongst the 12 applications; none of which are Arab nations. Further, only the UAE and its neighbor Oman have submitted applications for consideration at next year’s Committee meeting. Submitted for consideration by the UAE are the sport of falconry and the dances al ayala and al ahaala.

Francoise Rivière, representing the Director General of UNESCO, acknowledged the geographic imbalance stating that, “Africa and Arab states are far behind all [other] regions.” Rivière also stated that it could take years for the Arab states to catch up. Yet there are already signs of change. The very fact that the Committee meeting was held in Abu Dhabi testifies to the importance of cultural preservation and education to UAE leaders.

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development

To address the lack of cultural awareness amongst residents and tourists alike, government ministries have been established by three of the Emirates to work conjointly with the federal Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development. The focus on intangible heritage is part and parcel of the Ministry’s larger mission, which is to “preserve and promote” the national identity. It is believed the establishment of a national identity will not only ensure the survival of the Emirati culture amongst Emiratis, but will also spread to a global awareness and appreciation. Minister H.E. Abdul Rahman Mohammed Al Owais articulated these national and international goals in the following statement. “The Ministry is very keen to organize several programs and activities inside and outside the UAE with the aim of disseminating UAE culture and acknowledging the world within the history and culture of our country”

Initiatives undertaken thus far include preserving and/or reconstructing historically significant buildings and forts, establishing museums and heritage villages and reaching out to children.

Scattered throughout the UAE are forts once charged with defending a range of elements including an irrigation system, palm groves and trading hubs. Many of the forts also provided residency to the ruling families, while others served as military/police headquarters and prisons. The most frequently visited fort is Al Hosn (Abu Dhabi). Others include Bithnah Fort (Fujairah), Al Fahidi (Dubai), and Al Hisn (Sharjah).

In addition to the forts, heritage villages have been established in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah to provide visitors with a three-dimensional experience of life in the pre-developed UAE. The Emirates of Ajman, Sharjah, Al Ain, Umm al-Quwain and Ra’s al-Khaimah have established museums housing exhibits on archaeology, ethnography and other artifacts of historic and cultural significance. While some collections are not extensive and certain destinations are difficult to reach unless on a guided tour, their existence testifies to the growing focus of cultural preservation throughout the UAE.

Youth Education

Vital to the success of this preservation scheme is the Ministry’s outreach to Emirati children. It is believed the world over that children are the future. To ensure the future of the Emirati heritage, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development believes Emirati children need to be educated of their roots. For reasons ranging from hyper-speed development to an influx of English media, children in the UAE are often unaware of the their heritage. Means of instilling a national pride in children include focusing on the family and parental education, promoting the Arab language, teaming with the Ministry of Education to develop a sound curriculum and educating the children on the very intangible heritage UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee seeks to preserve.

Defining and Promoting Intangible Heritage

According to the 2003 Convention, Intangible heritage is defined as “practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills- as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith- that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage.” The UAE is ripe with such heritage. The seven Emirates are more than the Burj Dubai and Yas Marina. They are a vibrant and diverse federation of seven autonomous states which share an ancient heritage. From the widely known sport of falconry to the lesser known art of date palm weaving or (Khoos), the ancient traditions making up the Emirati culture are not only in need of preservation, but worthy of promotion.

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