SIH welcomes delegation from Family Development Foundation

The visit reflected the Institute’s commitment to strengthening community partnerships and promoting awareness of Emirati cultural heritage. It aimed to enrich the visitors’ knowledge of traditional crafts and national heritage, while offering insight into the features of Emirati life in the past.

Tour of Al Dhaid Fort

The Al Dhaid branch of the SIH organised the visit to Al Dhaid Fort, where participants toured the fort’s halls and the Emirati Handicrafts Centre. They explored its heritage exhibits, which document aspects of traditional life in the UAE, and listened to an explanation of the Institute’s efforts to safeguard living heritage and pass it on to future generations.

Interactive heritage workshops

The programme included a series of heritage workshops highlighting Emirati women’s craftsmanship and creativity in traditional arts. Among them was the “Furoukha” workshop, which explored one of the essential elements of traditional Emirati dress and its stages of development, and the “Talli” workshop, showcasing a traditional Emirati art of hand embroidery using cotton, gold, and silver threads on a kajoujah. Visitors also learned about “Khoos”—the handwoven palm fronds used to make roofs, mats, and colourful handicrafts.

Visitors’ engagement and appreciation

The visit was marked by a sense of pride in national heritage and Emirati identity. The visitors expressed their gratitude to the Sharjah Institute for Heritage for the warm reception and excellent organisation, noting that the experience enriched their understanding of authentic Emirati heritage and deepened their connection to the nation’s rich cultural legacy.