Intangible Heritage – the fabric of everyday life

ntangible cultural heritage "is the mainspring of our cultural diversity and its maintenance a guarantee for continuing creativity" (The 2003 UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage). The intangible heritage of Abu Dhabi Emirate is rich in oral literature, folklore, customs and beliefs, traditional handicrafts, games and sports, as well as performing arts. These are all vital components of everyday life.

ADACH's work in protecting this intangible heritage is closely linked to UNESCO’s and involves researching, cataloguing and archiving of the oral history, local traditions and values of Abu Dhabi. These activities document and preserve traditional culture, and help to encourage the development of
new local initiatives in literature, performing arts and handicrafts.