Abu Dhabi Island
Explore the island of Abu Dhabi of yonder days and experience traditional Emirati produce, learn the abilities of master craftsmen or simply explore the day to day traditions enjoyed by our ancestors.
Craft activities and merchant stalls marry together at Abu Dhabi Island, showing the full life cycle of traditional Emirati produce, made from seasoned expertise and practical skill.
From textiles to archaeology and cosmetic treatments, Abu Dhabi Island reawakens the social spirit of the Emirate’s ancient times.
Visit the Craft & Commerce area to see and learn the abilities of master craftsmen or you could explore the day to day traditions enjoyed by our ancestors in the Lifestyle & Community area.
Craft & Commerce
Watch the craftsmanship required to create authentic garmentry and discover the physical history of the fort in artefacts & architecture or learn about the different cosmetic properties of plants in the botanical benefits house.
Traditional Garmentry
Abu Dhabi Island offers an abundance of textile mastery, featuring the thread weaving skills of telli and colourful textile dyeing.
The traditional characteristics are enhanced with the inclusion of burga making, an important aspect of Emirati womens’ culture. All of the above are showcased in the traditional clothes expo.
Activities
- Telli
- Burga
- Textiles Dyeing
- Traditional Clothes Exhibition
Artefacts & Architecture
The artefacts & architecture area in the Abu Dhabi Island zone is an enlightening place to indulge in the history of Qasr al Hosn’s archaic construction style.
Enjoy an artisan area, an architectural workshop and uncover the history of the fort even further at the artefact dig and handle.
Activities
- Artisan Area
- Artefact Dig & Handle
- Architectural Workshop
Local Botanical Benefits
The mastery of herbs and foliage gave birth to many Emirati conventions. Amongst them, the use of henna, originally a medicinal technique and the production of afjaa, a treatment used to create particular hairstyles are interesting discoveries.
The mixing and burning of the herbs is also credited with the creation of dukhoun, a form of fragrant incense.
Activities
- Henna
- Aajfa
- Dukhoun
The Workbench
At the Abu Dhabi island zone, the Workbench is a great place to see the blacksmith, where unprocessed metals are shaped into tools, weapons and utensils.
Beside it is the pottery area, a beginner’s guide to how clay and other resources make everything from plates and bowls to decorative vases.
Activities
- Blacksmith
- Pottery
The Old Neighbourhood
This beautifully arranged new centrepiece of the Abu Dhabi island zone Lifestyle & Community cluster aims to recreate the daily life of old Abu Dhabi with a real sense of community capturing the old ways and taking you back in time with the sounds of busy market traders and aromatic smells of local food traders and nearby cooking workshops.
The Old Neighbourhood completely evokes how Abu Dhabi would have felt in times gone by, complete with buildings built using traditional materials and methods.
Stroll through authentic feeling streets and alleys to visit old structures, enjoying the vibrancy of an old Abu Dhabi town.
From the ever popular wedding house – with a peek into how Emirati women would dress and prepare the bride for the special occasion, to the school classroom and traditional games giving young Emiratis a taste of the classrooms and playground of old style schoolhouses, you will thoroughly enjoy discovering life in the Old Neighbourhood.
New additions include a grocer’s and the interior of a traditional home.
Note: Cooking classes in the Lifestyle & Community cluster must have a prior booking to attend. Visit the cooking workshop stall to find out about class schedules.
Activities
- Emirati Cooking Class
- Qasr Al Hosn Police
- Wedding House
- Traditional House Exhibition
- School Class
- Traditional Games
- Al Yola
- Dukkan (Grocer)
- Traditional Coffee Shop