Sheikh Mohammed tours Zayed Heritage Festival

Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum visited this afternoon the Zayed Heritage Festival in Abu Dhabi, held under the theme “The UAE as a crossroads of civilizations”.

Crown Prince of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Director General of Dubai Protocol Department Khalifa Saeed Sulaiman accompanied  Sheikh Mohammed during his tour.

Sheikh Mohammed stopped at the heritage neighborhoods where 18 countries, including the UAE, are showcasing the daily lives of the world’s ancient civilizations, along with traditional cuisines and national heritages.

Ahmed Saeed Al Neyadi, Deputy Chairman of the Festival's Organizing Committee, explained to Sheikh Mohammed about the evolution of the annual cultural and heritage event, cultural programme, exhibits and folklore events.

The UAE District offers a range of traditional events evoking the country’s past customs and folklore, with local products displayed in participating shops. The UAE Traditional Crafts Area is a living museum of the old UAE, featuring stories from four unique environments: terrestrial, marine, agricultural and mountainous.

Sheikh Mohammed praised the festival as a melting pot for Arab and global cultures, and a key contributor to efforts aimed at instilling national loyalty and identity in young generations, to be proud of their national, Arab and Islamic identity.

The month-long Festival is named in honor of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in recognition of his pivotal role in preserving the nation’s proud history as a gateway to the future. The annual event is held under the patronage of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Concluding his tour, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said he hoped the annual cultural gathering would help presenting the UAE's culture and heritage to the entire world.

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