Dubai, 20 April, 2017: Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center (HHC) has concluded its third and final workshop in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) within the framework of the ‘2003 UNESCO Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)’. Right after culmination of workshop, the CEO of HHC, H.E. Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, announced putting into action immediate work plans on inventorying the country’s elements of intangible cultural heritage in collaboration with the respective local communities. The 5-day workshop was held from 16 to 20 April 2017 at the JW Mariott Marquis in Dubai.

The third UNESCO workshop titled “Developing Safeguarding Plans for Preserving Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in Dubai” was attended by 20 participants from HHC, headed by the Center’s CEO, H.E. Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook.

“This final workshop resembles a new level in safeguarding plans in ICH and we will put into immediate action the development of inventorying plans in collaboration with our local communities. As a result of this workshop, we have merged our expertise on the national level with international best practices”, said H.E. Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmook, CEO of HHC.

“Our journey to preserving, sustaining and reviving the country’s intangible heritage has begun back in 2001 in the form of championships, research and studies, and activities, but after this workshop we aspire to continue inventorying the elements of UAE’s intangible cultural heritage especially the ones that need urgent safeguarding. Hopefully, we will build new models based on our best practices like the models which we have already built in HHC’s championships, research and studies, and activities”, Bin Dalmook added.

Speakers at the workshop included UNESCO accredited facilitators: Prof. Dr. Hani F. Hayajneh, and Prof. Dr. Annie Thome-Tabet. Both professors commended HHC’s teamwork and their knowledge of ICH on the national and international levels. The participants were divided into two groups, each chose one element of intangible heritage covering: “Al Maleh” – which is a national recipe of salted fish and “Al Sefafah” (palm fronds weaving). The two groups managed to build real life models of how to sustain, empower local communities and highlight the necessary support measures to safeguard the practices on a bigger scale - within the objectives of ICH, skills and all forms of ICH. 

Participants were awarded certificates of completion and the two facilitators received certificates of appreciation from HHC.