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A full view of the jalboot fishing boat model

Craftsmen at Abu Dhabi's Heritage Village, including Egyptian potter Osama El Adel, use traditional methods to keep the art alive. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Heritage Village is also home to the Emirates Heritage Club, which hosts workshops for traditional crafts

The village is an immersive time capsule, with an old-world souq, mosque and camp modelled on life in pre-modern UAE

Tourists enjoy the sights at the Heritage Village

Osama El Adel was taught pottery from his father, who worked at the Heritage Village for more than 20 years

He enjoys the the design and sculpting process of pottery and talking to tourists about the traditional methods he uses

El Adel’s family come from the city of Mansoura in Egypt, where his grandfather and father learnt the art of pottery

Younis Al Fallah, from Morocco, was taught by his father the craft of making daggers, or khanjar as they are known in the region, from the age of 10

Arabic daggers are seen across most of the region, in varying sizes and designs

While they were once used for hunting and fighting, today they are used as decorative objects and for traditional ceremonies

From his workshop inside Heritage Village, Younis Al Fallah crafts pieces and talks to tourists and visitors

Younis Al Fallah at work

An Italian tourist checks out a khanjar

Mujib Rahman from Bangladesh holds his design of a jalboot fishing boat model at his workshop

Mujib Rahman at work

The jalboot fishing boat model is intricately designed and crafted

A full view of the jalboot fishing boat model

Craftsmen at Abu Dhabi's Heritage Village, including Egyptian potter Osama El Adel, use traditional methods to keep the art alive. All photos: Victor Besa / The National

Heritage Village is also home to the Emirates Heritage Club, which hosts workshops for traditional crafts

The village is an immersive time capsule, with an old-world souq, mosque and camp modelled on life in pre-modern UAE

Tourists enjoy the sights at the Heritage Village

Osama El Adel was taught pottery from his father, who worked at the Heritage Village for more than 20 years

He enjoys the the design and sculpting process of pottery and talking to tourists about the traditional methods he uses

El Adel’s family come from the city of Mansoura in Egypt, where his grandfather and father learnt the art of pottery

Younis Al Fallah, from Morocco, was taught by his father the craft of making daggers, or khanjar as they are known in the region, from the age of 10

Arabic daggers are seen across most of the region, in varying sizes and designs

While they were once used for hunting and fighting, today they are used as decorative objects and for traditional ceremonies

From his workshop inside Heritage Village, Younis Al Fallah crafts pieces and talks to tourists and visitors

Younis Al Fallah at work

An Italian tourist checks out a khanjar

Mujib Rahman from Bangladesh holds his design of a jalboot fishing boat model at his workshop

Mujib Rahman at work

The jalboot fishing boat model is intricately designed and crafted

A full view of the jalboot fishing boat model

Photo essay: Inside Abu Dhabi's Heritage Village - where ancient traditions are kept alive

From pottery to ornaments and daggers, artisans still use traditional methods and tools

May 19, 2023

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