The Ministry of Culture participates in the Artisans Pavilion in "Made in UAE"

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ABU DHABI, 4th MAY / WAM / The Ministry of Culture is participating in the Artisans Pavilion in the activities of the fifth edition of “Made in the Emirates” during the period from 4 to 7 May 2026 at the “ADNEC” Center in Abu Dhabi, as part of its strategy aimed at empowering the cultural and creative industries, and enhancing their contribution to the national economy, as it is one of the promising sectors based on knowledge and innovation.

The Artisans Pavilion offers an integrated interactive experience, designed to take the visitor on a journey starting from the cultural roots of Emirati crafts, through the transformation phase that highlights the role of innovation and modern technologies in developing the craft, all the way to its future horizons as a productive sector capable of integrating into industrial and creative value chains.

About 200 craftsmen registered among the entities and institutions concerned with craftsmen, creative freelancers, and experts and specialists in crafts will participate in the pavilion, with the support of 21 entities and institutions, namely: the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Community Empowerment, the General Women’s Union, the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, the Fatima Bint Muhammad Project, ADNOC, the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority, the Zayed Authority for People of Determination, and the Emirates Competitiveness Council for Competitiveness (NAFES). The Emirates Council for Balanced Development, the Museum of the Future, the Irthi Council for Contemporary Crafts, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, Al Ghadeer Emirati Crafts, Ghars for Social Empowerment, the Culture and Arts Authority in Dubai, the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, the Department of Tourism, Culture and Media – Ajman, the Department of Antiquities and Museums – Ras Al Khaimah, and the Department of Tourism and Antiquities – Umm Al Quwain, in addition to the participation of 18 creative companies, the most prominent of which are: Mohammed Hilal Group, Kenana, Royal Mandoos Antiques and Gifts, Shar Heritage Ships, Mira Jewelery and others.

The pavilion includes a variety of events and activities, most notably live performances by artisans that provide a direct experience of practicing a number of traditional crafts, such as textile crafts, plastic and clay crafts such as pottery making, wooden crafts such as making mandoos, traditional musical instruments and sticks, in addition to crafts related to the marine environment and crafts related to the palm tree. The pavilion also includes platforms to display rare heritage pieces from state museums that document the history of crafts and their development over generations.

The pavilion provides visitors with the opportunity to view a group of archaeological handicraft products, as the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority displays a selection of finds from the Saruq Al-Hadid site, dating back to the first millennium BC, including a necklace consisting of 64 beads made of precious and semi-precious stones, and a bronze incense burner consisting of a three-legged base and an upper plate connected by a solid column, in addition to a necklace of natural seashells, and a disc-shaped button made of seashells and decorated with engravings. Geometric. The Department of Tourism and Antiquities in Umm Al Quwain also displays a selection of pottery and metal pieces, in addition to pieces of jewelry and ornaments discovered in multiple archaeological sites in the emirate. While the Department of Antiquities and Museums in Ras Al Khaimah presents a group of pieces, including a cooking pot made of local pottery, and a pottery coffee pot made in the emirate, dating back to the period between the eighteenth and twentieth centuries.

The pavilion displays applied models for integrating crafts with technology, through the use of artificial intelligence, 3D printing, and virtual reality technologies, which contributes to reintroducing the craft in a contemporary manner, and highlights its ability to keep pace with industrial development.

Three technical projects by Emirati innovators who were supported by the Ministry of Culture through the National Grants for Culture and Creativity Program will also be displayed in the “Innovation Wall”.

The Ministry, in cooperation with the Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority and the Emirates Council for Balanced Development, provides an immersive, interactive virtual experience that revives Emirati crafts in an innovative digital manner, where the visitor goes on a journey that simulates the practices of falconers, and learns about their tools, methods, and values associated with this ancient craft.

The pavilion also includes platforms to display contemporary creative products resulting from cooperation between craftsmen and designers, reflecting the possibilities of combining heritage and modern design.

The pavilion also witnesses the organization of specialized dialogue sessions discussing the future of crafts and cultural industries and their role in supporting the national economy, with the participation of an elite group of experts and creators, in addition to interactive workshops that allow visitors to experience crafts and learn about the stages of their development, and ways to transform them into innovative production projects.

The pavilion provides designated spaces for holding meetings and discussing opportunities for partnerships between artisans, investors and supporting bodies, in addition to a cooking corner that serves traditional Emirati cuisine in a contemporary style, and performances of performing arts that reflect the richness and diversity of the Emirati cultural heritage.

It is noteworthy that the craftsmen’s pavilion in last year’s edition witnessed wide participation, as 50 Emirati crafts in various styles were displayed, and more than 200 Emirati craftsmen participated with the support of 19 entities and institutions, in addition to the participation of nine creative companies and three technical projects.

Four qualitative agreements were signed, more than 500 national products were displayed, and the pavilion attracted more than 20,000 visitors, including about 2,800 male and female students, while the amount of funding allocated to support craftsmen exceeded 5.5 million dirhams.