Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, TCA Abu Dhabi, has announced that preparations are complete to launch the weekly traditional handicrafts market under its ‘Productive Families' initiative in Souq Al Qattara, Al Ain, to coincide with the first National Traditional Handicrafts Festival running from 23rd to 29th October.
More than 30 local families will showcase a wide variety of traditional products in the Market, which offers visitors a convenient shopping experience while they support local traders and learn about deep-rooted Emirati heritage at the same time.
Dr. Nasser Al Humairi, Director of the Intangible Heritage Department at TCA Abu Dhabi, said, "The ‘Productive Families' initiative aims to preserve Emirati national heritage through promoting the efforts of Emirati families who have kept these traditional crafts alive at their homes, or with support of social initiatives such as Sougha, Ghadeer and others." The market presents a wide collection of products that have been identified by TCA Abu Dhabi's Intangible Heritage department as contributing to their preservation and conservation criteria including traditional clothes, palm frond items, perfumes and incense, traditional makeup accessories, popular food and deserts, clothing supplies, swords and daggers, spice and coffee, honey, palm dates, traditional home appliances and utensils, herbs and folk medicine and others.