The bustling Emirati city of Abu Dhabi is famous for its modern skyscrapers, world-class business centres and thriving shopping venues. A city built on modern commercial enterprise and home to the best Abu Dhabi 5 Star Hotels, Abu Dhabi’s native cultural heritage is often overlooked in the labyrinth of the city’s modern, Western influence. Therefore, a visit to the city’s emerging cultural centres is a must to rediscover Abu Dhabi’s local culture.
One such cultural centre is Abu Dhabi’s Women’s Handicraft Centre, a small Government-run museum dedicated to preserving the tradition of local handicrafts. Lying near Abu Dhabi’s busy Airport Road and Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara, the Women’s Handicraft Centre sits in a beautiful garden behind the General Women’s Union building. Open five days a week, the Women’s Handicraft Centre is managed by Abu Dhabi Women’s Association and showcases the talents of local women applied in the creation of local crafts.
The Women’s Handicraft Centre comprises of a collection of round buildings that house numerous workshops where Emirati women can be seen sitting in groups weaving baskets using palm tree fronds and performing intricate silver thread-work on traditional garments. Pay a fee at the entrance and explore the museum barefoot to witness the weaving of colourful teli embroidery that adorn women’s robes and other pieces of intricate design that is used to make the colourful Bedouins tents found in the neighbouring desert region.
Regarded as one of the best places in Abu Dhabi to buy authentic, traditional handmade crafts, visitors can purchase perfumed Arabian oils, camel-skin bags and ethnic costumes, shoes, shawls, pottery and rugs as souvenirs to take home. While at the museum, visitors can pay a fee to have an artist draw the traditional henna design on their hands and savour local dishes served in the Centre’s dining area. Inside the Facility visitors are advised to respect the laws of the Islamic State and refrain from taking photographs without prior permission, and when approval is granted, avoid taking photographs of the Centre’s female artisans.
Pushpitha Wijesinghe is an experienced independent freelance writer. He specializes in providing a wide variety of content and articles related to the travel hospitality industry.