Emirati culture drives up to the Abu Dhabi F1

With the world’s eyes on Abu Dhabi this weekend, the Emirate is using the opportunity to showcase the best of our nation’s culture and heritage.

 

Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) is set to wow race fans this weekend with displays of authentic and traditional cultural activities in its most immersive Formula 1 visitor promotion yet for this year’s Oasis Fan Village at the 2015 F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The event takes place from tomorrow until Sunday.

 

Having joined forces with a number of key stakeholders, the authority will mount two promotional pavilions in the Main and North Grandstand Oases within the state-of-the-art Yas marina Circuit to introduce visitors to Emirati culture, live traditional activities and key destination products and events.

 

“With another sell-out 60,000 fans expected, our aim is to enable fans to experience an authentic multi-sensory Abu Dhabi experience within a cultural space emphasising the nation's heritage,” said Faisal Al Sheikh, Events Bureau Director, TCA Abu Dhabi. “We have gone all out this year to ensure visitors can see, hear, touch, taste and smell the emirate’s experiences and explore more of Abu Dhabi’s attractions during their stay.”

 

The Main Oasis cultural pavilion with reflect a theme exploring the emirate’s traditions and modern culture. Visitors will be presented with an array of live traditional activities and crafts exploring Emirati culture featuring falconry, cooking displays, handicrafts, calligraphy, henna painting and live traditional music and dance performance such as Al Ayaalah and Rababa. Race fans will also be invited to sample Arabian coffee, a reflection and symbol of Arabian hospitality.

 

Joining the pavilion will be the new Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, an integral part of the development of Al Ain Zoo. The Centre’s exhibition over five galleries is an exploration of the natural and cultural history of the Arabian desert, and of deserts worldwide. Visitors will be greeted by a falconer and his bird with who they can pose for souvenir photos to commemorate their visit.

 

Within the pavilion, visitabudhabi.ae, the emirate’s destination website, will provide sporting fanatics an opportunity to get on their bike for an interactive ‘cloud biking’ tour of the emirate’s top sights, with their progress charted on large screens. Meanwhile, an engaging iPad competition for a chance to win a five-night holiday in Abu Dhabi with flights from Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, will be up for grabs, together with many other giveaways.

 

Across the circuit on the North Grandstand concourse, a mega-20 metre long 3D #InAbuDhabi model will provide fans with social media photo opportunities with all tagged posts visible on large screen social media aggregator in the cultural pavilion.

 

Guests to the North Oasis cultural pavilion will be presented with a variety of authentic experiences which explore the emirate’s culture and heritage through two theme zones. The Interactive History zone reflects a window to the past through the modern lenses of today, charting the history of Abu Dhabi and features authentic Emirati lifestyle and crafts.

 

The pavilion’s Emirati Music Experience is an interactive exhibition features a retrospective look at the musical history of Emirati culture to fill a gap in the UAE Heritage sector for traditional Music, capturing the past and the future. Sound showers – advanced speaker technology which targets audio to specific space – will play traditional Emirati tunes and poetry for visitors to enjoy.

 

The Oasis pavilions are open to all ticket-holders from tomorrow to Sunday.