TOP THINGS TO DO IN ABU DHABI ON HOLIDAYS (2)

HERITAGE VILLAGE, ABU DHABI, UAE

Heritage Village, Abu Dhabi

 The Emirates Heritage Club was initiated by H. H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, to safeguard the legacy and customs of the UAE. It was launched on May 9, 1993. On June 16, 1997 H. H. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Vice High Commander of the Armed Forces, published the Presidential Decree No 14 of 1997 for a certified commencement of the Emirates Heritage Club.






Camel at the Heritage Village



The Emirates Heritage Village is situated near the Breakwater and is operated by Emirates Heritage Club. Here, you can take a trip back into the past to experience what life was like before Abu Dhabi became a wealthy, cosmopolitan city due to the discovery of the emirate’s oilfields.

Located at the Breakwater in the middle of Abu Dhabi, Heritage village is designed as a living museum offering a glimpse into the country’s past. It exhibits Bedouin tradition and lifestyle detailing a variety of local traditions, as well as those of other cultures employed in agriculture, fishing and trading. The site features tents, courtyard houses, an ancient irrigation system and workshops where craftsmen ply their trades. Furthermore, there are souvenir shops where authentic pottery and exotic spices are available.

One of the wells at Heritage Village, Abu Dhabi

The Heritage Village includes recreations of a Bedouin encampment, a souq, a mosque and a barasti (a traditional type of hut constructed using palm fronds). There is a small museum there, where you can see traditional Bedouin costumes, cooking utensils and other items, and you can also ride on a camel or watch a falconery display.

You can watch craftsmen such as glass blowers and weavers at work, and you will also get the chance to buy some of their products in the village’s shop.

Near Heritage Village is a gorgeous view of the skyline - mixing traditional Arabian architecture and pure modernity - that lines the Riviera-style Corniche.

Situated on a 1600 sq. metre site overlooking the Corniche, near the Breakwater in Abu Dhabi, this heritage village is run by Emirates Heritage Club. Here you can journey to the past and experience traditional life in Abu Dhabi before oil revenues altered the landscape, economically and socially. In addition to bedouin tents, there are reconstructions of palm ('arish) and other houses, old fishing villages and traditional souqs. Given its location along the seafront, maritime traditions are a special feature. There is also a shop for local crafts, a good photographic exhibition and a unique collection of the Holy Quran.

The Heritage Village is a reproduction of a traditional Bedouin village, with an old dhow yard and a souk area where visitors can buy leather, glass, pottery, spices, perfumes, daggers, swords and silk.

Old photographs, aerial shots, film (in English, French and German) and interactive displays depict Abu Dhabi's rapid development from oasis life to modern and cosmopolitan city.

Venue Information: Heritage Village, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Opening Hours: Mon-Thu & Sat 9am-1pm & 5pm-9pm; Fri 5pm-9pm
Directions: Located near Abu Dhabi Breakwater and a short distance from the imposing Marina Mall