The activities at Al Marmoom Heritage Village were a huge draw.

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

DUBAI: Fans of Al Marmoom Heritage Village are in for a treat as the popular family destination prepares to opens its doors to thousands of visitors from April 6-18. Families and tourists will be treated to an enhanced programme of cultural shows and activities on the sidelines of Al Marmoom Camel Race Festival, one of GCC’s sporting highlights of the year.  

The Village focuses on presenting a comprehensive overview of Emirati culture and heritage through a plethora of events, activities, traditional shows and old fashioned shopping experience. In its previous editions, the popular destination succeeded in attracting a multinational crowd with families from different cultures flocking to the Village to get a very close-to-real experience of old UAE. With more than 65 stores, 10 restaurants and several kiosks, the Village this year promises its visitors to have an elevated cultural experience.

The event is a tourist draw as it organises some of the most authentic Emirati cultural art forms. One such show is the dance form Al-Ayyala which involves chanted poetry, drum music and dance, and is part of the region’s national identity. Al Ayyala is on the Unesco’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage Items of Humanity.

Abdullah Faraj, Member of the Supreme Committee and Head of Marketing and Events at Al Marmoom Camel Race Festival, said, “We have opted to bring more cultural programmes, shows and activities this year to better the experience for our visitors. This includes creating new zones such as a camel-riding zone, Old Marine Life Zone, a Bedouin Life Zone and many others. Our centre stage will host various folklore dances from different parts of the world, in addition to newly developed shows celebrating the Year of Tolerance in UAE.”

“The Al Marmoom Camel Race Festival is an important fixture in UAE’s sporting calendar and the inclusion of the Heritage Village makes the event a must-visit. Over the years, the Heritage Festival has drawn tourists who have the opportunity to get an authentic insight into Emirati culture.”

Organisers of the event explained that some of the new features this year include a specially produced laser and lights show, in addition to a first-ever competition titled the Best Emirati Cultural Dress For Children. This competition is open to all children between the ages of 4 and 10 years old, with fantastic prizes for winners.