The UAE's suite has finished preparation to participate in the 30th Saudi National Festival for Heritage and Culture, Janadriya, which is scheduled to kick-off on Feb. 3 in Riyadh. The UAE will have a remarkable presence in the event through a wide variety of activities representing the depth and originality of its folklore. The suite this year will showcase the successes of the country's participation in the festival in the previous years, which encompassed a huge number of public. In the last festival the UAE was chosen as the festival's guest of honor. The Emirates' suite, which is supervised by Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority under the direction of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs, represents an element of attraction to hundreds of thousands of Janadriya fans. Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, has confirmed that the participation in the festival comes as a reflection of the brotherhood and affection between the Saudis and Emiratis. He said the huge cultural event is one area to celebrate their authentic heritage and deep-rooted history, adding that UAE attaches more importance to the common history of GCC countries. Sheikh Sultan extended his gratitude to the festival's organizing committee, which provides organizational and administrative support to promote UAE participation in the festival pursuant to its role in maintaining heritage and success of the event. Heritage and culture are two main factors in the sustainable development process witnessed in today's Emirates and an integral part of its identity, which has become a model and center for interaction of human heritage. It has also become a center for dialogue between cultures and international civilizations, as well as a place for embracing many cultural, historical, entertainment and heritage milestones. UAE has become today a leading country in the sustainable cultural, touristic and family entertainment developments throughout the year. Among the most prominent cultural and heritage activities provided by Emiratis in the festival this year, live pictures about the agricultural environment, which include traditional industries that depend mostly on palm products. The Bedouin environment will be present also to reflect its importance in the community, where the public shall enjoy live performances of various Emirati cultural arts in the heritage tent. Emirati women have noticeably contributed to the success of the UAE's participation in the festival, by presenting models of handicrafts and embroidery clothing, as well as popular Emirati traditional cuisine. This is in addition to the women's crafts which the Emirati women excelled in ancient times and which are still present among modern generations who are keen to learn and to teach to others, so as to enhance the stature of the local heritage and keep it lasting over generations. The Emirati participation includes cultural competitions and a variety of Emirati popular arts shows, pictures exhibitions about the Emirates' history in the past and today, Hay Tents, Arabic coffee setting and other lifestyles, customs and traditions known to Emirati peoples hundreds of years ago. The participation this year will feature interactive activities for the public and not merely shows, it will make genuine heritage and cultural atmospheres that takes the visitor into the Emirates' scent of history and authenticity. The picture, sound, live shows, heritage competitions, design of suite and its corridors that embody history, culture, values and modernity of Emirates, have all combined to send an air of familiarity with heritage as an integral part of the Emirati cultural configuration, which is firmly connected with other Gulf countries. — SG
