drawers "henna" On the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO

ABU DHABI, 12 December / WAM / The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi announced the official inclusion of the file “Henna: Rituals, Social and Aesthetic Practices” in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, as one of the oldest, most famous and most ancient elements of cultural heritage in the United Arab Emirates.

This came during the participation of the UAE delegation, headed by His Excellency Ambassador Ali Al Haj Al Ali, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to UNESCO, in the nineteenth session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO, which was held in the city of Asuncion in the Republic of Paraguay.

The UAE achieved a notable achievement during this meeting, as henna was included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at UNESCO, after meeting all the international conditions and standards stipulated in the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture, Chairman of the National Committee for Education, Culture and Science, said, “We are proud of the efforts being made in including these files, which constitute a pillar of our Emirati and Arab national heritage and identity, in this important list. This is a step that contributes to informing the world of what our civilization possesses.” “Arabic language has its roots and authenticity, and contributes to clarifying the strong ties that unite us as Arab countries, based on treasures of authentic cultural heritage.”

His Excellency added that the UAE is keen to make various efforts to preserve and protect the tangible and intangible heritage, and pass it on to future generations because of its value, as it is the wealth of peoples and the starting point of their national identity. This is why our country, in cooperation with many Arab countries, led this trend through… Develop the necessary plans to ensure that it reaches the stage of accreditation by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), so that it will be an important legacy for future generations, in order to be closely linked to its authentic past, and to complete the work to consolidate This is a cultural and national value.

For his part, His Excellency Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi, said that henna is considered one of the symbols deeply rooted in our heritage, and its inclusion in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list is a clear indication of our commitment to preserving our traditions and symbols for future generations.

He added that henna has become a symbol of joy, creativity and art, which enhances society’s celebrations, events and festivals across generations.

His Excellency stressed that this achievement is in line with our broader strategic goals, to enhance the preservation of Emirati identity and traditions on a global level.

He said that, in light of the support of the wise leadership in Abu Dhabi and the UAE in general, we will continue to implement protection measures in cooperation with the relevant authorities to ensure the preservation of our intangible cultural heritage. Through this recognition, we aim to highlight the cultural heritage and the deep importance and pride in our national identity, which is embodied by our societies. And our artists in the practices of adopting henna over time.

The Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, and under the auspices of the Education, Culture and Science Organization (ELECSO), led the file for nominating henna for registration in UNESCO as a joint Arab file for 16 Arab countries, which are, in addition to the United Arab Emirates: Jordan, Bahrain, Tunisia, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Iraq, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kuwait, Morocco, Egypt, Mauritania, Yemen.

The joint file highlights the role of heritage in sustainable development and common human heritage. It is also a testimony to the experiences of Arab societies in making henna designs richer and more diverse as a traditional adornment.

It is noteworthy that henna is the sixteenth element to be listed in the name of the United Arab Emirates on the UNESCO lists as part of the continuous process that began in 2010 with the inclusion of falconry.

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