Heritage & Culture
“A people that knows not its past has neither present nor future” Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan
Abu Dhabi's people traditionally derived their livelihood from land and sea. Their culture, before oil emerged as a driving economic and social force, continues to reflect and influence sports, poetry and the way of life.
The great days when sailing dhows traded with China, India and East Africa, and pearling dhows harvested the Gulf's oysters, have gone. In their place is a modern cultural identity comprised of a rich mosaic of traditional Arab, Islamic and contemporary influences. Many cultural or traditional icons and practices seen today were essential tools for man's survival in the harsh desert climate in times past.
Indigenous people cared for date crops, fished and harvested pearls for a living. They hunted with falcons and built graceful dhows, or navigated a sea of sand to find new grazing grounds for their camel herds.
Leisure time was spent singing, dancing and reciting Nabati poetry. Libraries and cultural foundations have been established to preserve these vital traditions and cultural symbols.
Many traditional sports and activities remain an intrinsic part of Abu Dhabi. Visitors are most familiar with horse racing, which is today employs thoroughbreds from Europe and North America, horses of Arabian lineage after they were reintroduced to the area in 1960. The horse has always been popular in Arabia, and Abu Dhabi is now a leader in Arabian horse breeding.
Falconry is still widely practiced today, with saker or peregrine falcons imported from abroad or captured, and trained to answer to their master's voice. Most falconry in the UAE now takes the form of demonstration, as the UAE introduced strict conservation laws affecting bird hunting. In the past, falcons would be used to hunt the houbara bustard and the stone curlew.
Although no longer the preferred mode of transport, the camel remains an integral to the lives of local people, thanks to the popular sport of camel racing.
As an Abu Dhabi-based company created by the Abu Dhabi Government, Sorouh actively supports the country's determination to preserve and promote traditional Emirati culture by supporting the Government's strategy with a wide variety of cultural and educational sponsorship programs.
