Qasr Al Hosn Festival in Abu Dhabi

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, on Wednesday led a procession, signalling the start of the 3rd Qasr Al Hosn Festival in Abu Dhabi.

The celebration was also attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in the Western Region, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler`s Representative in the Eastern Region, Sheikh Surour bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Saeed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler's Representative, Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation, Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court, Sheikh Dhiyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Zayed Higher Organization for Humanitarian Care & Special Needs(ZHO), Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Advisor to the UAE President, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development, Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Transport Department and Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Sheikhs, senior officials and citizens.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed toured Qasr Al Hosn, a symbol of Abu Dhabi’s modern heritage which now serves as the premises of the Cultural Foundation. They were briefed about the festival's activities and stopped at different areas of the festival, including the Desert, Oasis, Marine and Abu Dhabi Island.

They also reviewed restoration plans for the iconic building and the progress of excavation works inside the building which led to the discovery of ruins of an old Majlis (reception area) built from coral bricks.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed also visited the Qasr Al Hosn Exhibition which explores the story of the palace, its context and the saga of people who lived and worked there for centuries.

They praised the efforts made by different national organisations to preserve Qasr Al Hosn as a symbol of the UAE history, depicting sacrifices and achievements of the ancestors.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid joined a performance of a folk dance in celebration of the country's rich heritage.

Over 300 students from 10 national universities were available on-site as Qasr Al Hosn ambassadors, ensuring visitors could have the maximum experience during their visit.

Qasr Al Hosn Festival 2015 also features the homecoming of ‘Lest We Forget: Structures of Memory in the United Arab Emirates’ from la Biennale di Venezia where it debuted in the UAE’s National Pavilion at the acclaimed International Architecture Exhibition.

This exhibition, commissioned by the Salama bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, showcases the findings of a larger initiative ‘Lest We Forget’ that seeks to archive the history of architectural and urban development in the UAE over the past century, and is one of the pioneer programmes dedicated to the definition and preservation of modern Emirati heritage.

The festival brings forth a selection of lively performances, inspired by traditional Emirati music, poetry and heritage.






 

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