UAE: Abu Dhabi Heritage village

Surrounded with high walls and with a large entrance gate, the Abu Dhabi Heritage village looked like a fortress. The area now displays the Emirati desert way of life to tourists.

One side looked like a traditional oasis village, with a mosque, souk (market), some houses built of mud brick and a falaj irrigation system that is still used in oasis areas to irrigate the palm groves.

On the other side, there were Bedouin tents made from goats‘ hair with a campfire. Also a barasti house made of the palm trees – it was built either from straight palm poles without their leaves or with the leaves still on for roof – making it easy to move to other place, you just took the poles and leaves and left. Leaves were also used instead of the walls.

There was also a mini-zoo with a real camel and a horse. And on the beach, there were several traditional dhows (boats).

I clearly missed the opening hours as the village was open, but the buildings inside were locked. The is a museum with photos of Abu Dhabi when it was still a small pearl diving village before they discovered oil. There were also supposed to be workshops where craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills, such as metal work and pottery, while women sit weaving and spinning, and displays of Bedouin jewellery, traditional clothing, cooking utensils, camel harnesses and equipment used by pearl divers and merchants. Need to go back again.

Various trivia pictures from the Heritage Village. PS Cats are everywhere.