Launch of Brand New Cultural Programme in Al Ain Set to Entertain and Educate
Al Ain Oasis events mark start of year-long schedule of family-focused activities
New programmes organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
All India, 27th January 2017: This weekend sees the launch of a host of exciting cultural activities in Al Ain, as part of the recently announced programme of heritage and family-focused events organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
The programme have been designed to provide a multitude of ways for visitors to interact with the Emirate’s cherished history, and has been curated to support the UNESCO theme ‘Protecting our Heritage and Fostering Creativity’. It will run throughout 2017 at several iconic locations across the emirate’s Garden City, and offers various events for both visitors and residents alike, with the initial activities beginning on January 26th at Al Ain Oasis.
The stunning location of Al Ain Oasis provides the backdrop for the first programme; Evenings at the Oasis, which will feature a programme set to evoke a sense of communal nostalgia, through the screening of shows from popular culture of the 70s and 80s, traditional performances such as Ayyala, food trucks and story-telling inspired by life within the Oasis, as well as the recounting of oral testimonies from the Oasis community, starting on January 26th and running until January 28th.
Evenings at the Oasis screenings will be hosted at the West Plaza, where family friendly films will be shown at 7pm and 9:30pm every night, including Iftah Ya Simsim (the Arabic Sesame Street), the old Emirati show Shhafan Al Gato, the old Kuwaiti show Darb Al Zalag, and old childrens cartoons Grandizer and Sally.
Evenings at the Oasis will also feature Ayyala performances in the West Plaza at 6:30pm and 9pm, as well as heritage story-telling events, where three story-tellers will recount their personal experiences that demonstrate the rich heritage of the Oasis at 6pm and 8:30pm nightly.
The first night (January 26th) will see local resident Shamma Al Neyadi share tales inspired by her experiences of living next to the oasis, with the following night )January 27th) featuring Ghaya Al Dhaheri, who will share her knowledge and experience from her research and documentation of life in the Oasis.
The final evening (January 28th) will feature Aysha Al Dhaheri, who will share the insights and accumulative knowledge of the people who lived alongside the Oasis, recounting key stories from the local population.
This first weekend for the Evenings at the Oasis event will be followed by similar events in February, March and April.
Enhancing the offerings at the Oasis, the programme will continue with Oasis Afternoons, which will begin on the weekend of February 3rd and 4th, where the West Plaza and West Gate Car park will be filled with communal market stalls from 2pm to 6pm. The vendors will sell traditional, handmade and modern Emirati products and produce, a first market of its kind, enticing all the senses, where all products are made and/or inspired by the Oasis and the material found within. These Afternoons also host children’s workshops, with a range of arts and crafts projects for children of all ages to enjoy.
In addition, at Al Ain Oasis, there will also be the Celebrating the Seasons ongoing programme, which will run from February 1st to March 15th. Visitors can experience the different oasis farming seasons through activities organised on the theme of ‘Germination’, and what it must have been like to have been a farmer living in the oasis. The programme returns in March with activities highlighting ‘The Oasis Garden’, and in October will focus on Preservation’.
This extensive programme is designed to highlight Al Ain as the cultural heartland of the Emirate and the home to the UAE’s only UNESCO World Heritage site. Al Ain is one of the worlds oldest continually inhabited cities, which fuses the spirit of the past with a lively and contemporary vision for the future.
Further details and the full programme of events and timings can be found at visitalain.ae
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ABOUT ABU DHABI TOURISM & CULTURE AUTHORITY
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority conserves and promotes the heritage and culture of Abu Dhabi emirate and leverages them in the development of a world-class, sustainable destination of distinction which enriches the lives of visitors and residents alike. The authority manages the emirate’s tourism sector and markets the destination internationally through a wide range of activities aimed at attracting visitors and investment. Its policies, plans and programmes relate to the preservation of heritage and culture, including protecting archaeological and historical sites and to developing museums, including the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. The authority supports intellectual and artistic activities and cultural events to nurture a rich cultural environment and honour the emirate’s heritage. A key authority role is to create synergy in the destination’s development through close co-ordination with its wide-ranging stakeholder base.
For more information please contact:
Anu Bhat
PR and Brand Executive
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
India
Tel: +91 11 23737348, +91 9643674469 | Fax: +91 11 23350270
Email: ABhat@tcaabudhabi.ae
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