“Marawid” celebrates folk arts and rhythms of the world

In the editorial of the February 2026 issue, published during the magazine’s tenth year, Dr Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Institute, emphasises that cultural heritage reflects the civilisations of peoples. He points out that the UAE’s rich and diverse heritage is the result of a long history of civilisational exchange, where trade and travel over land and sea to regions such as India, Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia contributed to interaction with the arts of the world and its musical rhythms.

The issue’s dossier includes studies and articles by several of the magazine’s writers, including Fahad Al Maamari, Ali Al Abdan, Salem Zayed Al Teneiji, Aisha Al Ghais, and Fatima Sultan Al Mazrouei, who discuss folk arts as a bridge for communication between peoples. This includes “Al Ahlah” art, recently inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The issue also contains reviews of artistic and heritage books and studies, while highlighting places firmly rooted in memory such as Liwa in the UAE and Tiwi Village in Oman. It further showcases the role of folk troupes in preserving heritage, including the Sharjah National Troupe and “Zinat Al Sharjah” for Gulf Arts, in addition to cultural articles and features that enrich readers’ knowledge in literature, arts, and heritage.