ABU DHABI, Aug. 18th, 2009: The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) is completing the first phase of a project for the interpretation of Abu Dhabi's heritage resources, said Director General of ADACH Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei.
The project aims at transmitting to the people of the UAE and its visitors the values and history behind Abu Dhabi's heritage resources, with the purpose of making these more accessible to the Emirate's wider community. Mazrouei said a series of 32 interpretative leaflets and three maps have been developed. They include sites and resources such as Hili Archaeological Park, Jebel Hafit tombs, Sir Bani Yas Island, Qasr al Hosn Fort, Liwa's historic buildings, Al Ain National Museum, Emirati handicrafts, traditional songs and dances and desert landscapes among others. The interpretation project is inscribed in the Authority's 5 year Strategic Plan; it is an important initiative for the regional and international promotion of Abu Dhabi's culture and heritage. The first interpretive leaflets will be distributed within the month of August 2009; eventually, they will be widely disseminated through the emirate's museums, the Cultural Foundation, Al Jahili visitor center in Al Ain as well as Abu Dhabi's main hotels. Dr. Sami Al Masri, ADACH Deputy Director General for Culture, Arts and Heritage Affairs and Director of Strategic Planning Department, said that in the framework of the Authority's work to enhance people's accessibility and appreciation of Abu Dhabi's heritage resources, a series of interpretive panels are also being developed. Several training programs to develop heritage interpreters are also underway. He said that Abu Dhabi's cultural heritage is both rich and varied; it consists of tangible and intangible resources and incorporates archaeological sites, historic buildings, cultural landscapes, ethnographic and historic collections, as well as a thriving traditional folklore. The emirate of Abu Dhabi enjoys three different cultural landscapes which span across its large breadth, i.e., oases, desert and coastal life, and which reflect on the heritage wealth and diversity of the emirate. However, the significance of the cultural heritage of Abu Dhabi is still not fully articulated and it does not play the relevant role it should play in the present and future development of the area and its society. There are indications that Abu Dhabi's heritage is often undervalued and little known to different population groups within the emirate. It is therefore important to involve the UAE national people in the processes of discovering and understanding the richness and values of their culture as it is a main determinative of local identity and of great relevance to the stability and well being of a society. It is also important to expand the audience for cultural heritage beyond the very narrow group of already reasonably well informed people so as to reach out and mainstream the heritage to a wider audience including both citizens of the UAE and visitors. Dr. Masri stressed the project for the provision of heritage interpretation in Abu Dhabi comes in response to the increased awareness in the significance and value of the cultural heritage of the emirate. It is also motivated by the need to highlight the rich history and achievements of the past and bring people closer to the emirate's heritage resources by making these more accessible, understandable, engaging and enjoyable.Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.
