SIH participates in Khorfakkan Marine Festival

The Institute offered a comprehensive cultural experience reflecting the deep connection between Emirati people and the sea, encompassing traditional crafts, stories, and practices that have formed a central part of the coastal community’s memory.

Maritime crafts as a memory of place

The Institute’s participation included displays of several traditional crafts linked to the maritime environment, including hand-line fishing, the making of fishing traps (qaragheer), and wooden shipbuilding techniques historically used in the region. A dedicated corner featured the Institute’s publications, allowing visitors to explore a collection of books and studies documenting the UAE’s maritime heritage and examining the history of the region and its relationship with the sea.

Arts and storytelling as bridges to future generations

The Institute also highlighted traditional shipbuilding tools, alongside historical insights into the crafting of old wooden doors, and exhibited maritime artefacts reflecting the richness and diversity of Emirati maritime heritage. To provide an interactive artistic dimension, artist Hassan Adlbi created live drawings for visitors, expressing the beauty of heritage through a contemporary creative lens. The participation also included various children’s workshops and a storytelling segment, which brought to life tales of the sea, its significance, and traditional fishing methods in an interactive experience that strengthened the connection between past and present.

This participation underscores the role of the SIH in raising awareness of the importance of maritime heritage and contributing to the transmission of this rich cultural legacy to future generations, reinforcing national identity and preserving Emirati memory.