Qasr Al Hosn opens doors to hundreds of visitors

Abu Dhabi: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Thursday led the national celebratory march to mark the 250th anniversary of Qasr Al Hosn in Abu Dhabi, which was built by the late Shaikh Diab Bin Eisa Al Nahyan.

Leading the march alongside Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid were General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince.

The march, which began from Al Manhal Palace and ended at Qasr Al Hosn, symbolises the journey of Al Nahyans from the city of Liwa in the Western region to Abu Dhabi. Upon reaching the banquet centre built outside Qasr Al Hosn, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid and Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed performed a number of traditional and heritage dances before a crowd of Shaikhs, citizens and members of various tribes.

Hundreds flocked on Thursday into the open doors of the Qasr Al Hosn Festival’s premiere to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the iconic fort.

The festival showcases historic Emirati mementos, pictures, videos, visual art performances, handicrafts and the art of story telling among other things.

For 10 days, residents will get the opportunity to interact first-hand with Emirati men and women who will share their past experiences, while also getting a chance to sample some of the traditional Emirati food being offered to guests free of charge.

A ground area of over 87,500 square-metres surrounding the original fort is divided into four main areas: Marine, Abu Dhabi Island, the desert and the oasis. These can be accessed through four main entrances opposite Grand Stores and Futooh Al Khair.

A full programme of workshops will allow visitors to apply henna art and learn the process of making the decorative paste. Other activities on the Abu Dhabi Island include palm frond weaving among others. Meanwhile, Emirati men will showcase traditional dance and song through performances held just outside the fort’s white walls.

Sixty souqs will serve as windows to the past as festival-goers get a chance to converse with craftsmen and women from Ras Al Khaimah, Dibba, Fujairah and other emirates while purchasing hand-made souveniers.

Twenty camels and horses are participating in the celebrations as children and adults alike get an opportunity to ride these long-term bedouin companions.

The sandy compound is also featuring a display of the costumes worn by 1950s Emirati police officers and other military items of the past.

An indoor art exhibition containing snapshots and videos of Qasr Al Hosn related materials is open to the public throughout the festival’s 10-day duration. Meanwhile, visitors can approach experts from the Muntada Forum by the Shaikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation, who will be addressing issues surrounding the fort’s development and its influence on the UAE’s future.

Finally, world-class entertainer, artistic producer and Cirque-du-Soleil show creator Franco Dragone is carrying out daily shows of Story of a Fort Legacy of a Nation, a 75-minute performance on the formation of Abu Dhabi city. Using 64 projectors, light displays, technological aspects uniquely combined, an international cast of gymnasts, performers and dancers will entertain audiences in a 5,600 square metre purpose-built tent.

According to Dragone, the plot revolves around a young Emirati walking past Qasr Al Hosn, not recognising the historic significance of the very spot in which he stands, when suddenly a Shaheen (a majestic falcon) appears in front of his eyes. “In a flutter of a wing, the falcon pulls the boy into a whirlwind of images and feelings, a visual and musical poem through which the boy will discover his roots and the fundamental values that lie at the very heart of Abu Dhabi and its people,” Dragone said.

Mohammad Bin Zayed says

In a statement to Abu Dhabi Al Emarat TV, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the UAE’s forefathers for lifting the UAE flag high.

“On this beautiful occasion, I would like to extend my congratulations to the people of the UAE. We always celebrate our country’s national day, which brings us together. However, today, we have a festive occasion that goes back 250 years in the emirate of Abu Dhabi,” said Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed.

“UAE’s history goes back to 700 years, and Abu Dhabi’s history goes back to 250 years. I would also like to stress that from Fujairah to Sela’, the UAE is one nation, one family. The history off all other emirates, from Dubai to Fujairah, is deep-rooted as well. We have mosques in the UAE that were built a thousand years ago, and a history that goes back thousands of years.

— With inputs from WAM