Led by the UAE leaders, thousands of Emiratis on Wednesday evening marched to a fort-palace in the middle of Abu Dhabi as part of the opening of Qasr Al Hosn festival — an annual event in the country’s cultural calendar. A celebration of Emirati heritage and culture, the ten-day festival is undoubtedly the best showcase of UAE’s national pageantry and history. The festival is not just about falconry displays or boat-building traditions, it is a kaleidoscope of Emirati way of life, nationhood and its rich past.
Conceptualised around the 18th century coral and sea-stone watchtower, built by the Bani Yas tribes and later converted into an impregnable fort by the erstwhile ruler Shaikh Shakhbut Bin Dhiyab, the festival draws thousands of citizens and expatriates each year. Leading the march were His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed said: “We will be loyal to the values of our forefathers, finding inspiration in their glorious history, to continue our approach for development.”
Occasions like this act as a reminder of our past, our societies and our ancestors — heritage that must be celebrated, cherished and passed on to the younger generation. In today’s globalised world, societies can easily lose heritage and cultural identities if they fail to preserve them and remind the youth of their roots. Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed rightly said: “What we live today is a continuation of our past efforts, which we are determined to sustain and enhance.” This celebration must continue.
