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| Source: Qasr Al Hosn Festival. The 2015 festival attracted 120,000 visitors in 11 days. |
The annual Qasr Al Hosn Festival is set to return to the UAE capital from February 3 to 13, 2016. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the 2016 festival will celebrate the Qasr Al Hosn's status as a historic monument and community hub, and honour the UAE’s founders and their leadership.
Qasr Al Hosn, which is the symbolic birthplace of the Emirate and home to Abu Dhabi’s ruling Al Nahyan family, continues to undergo a comprehensive process of preservation, restoration and rehabilitation. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the festival narrates the ongoing conservation of the fort, and reinforces the Qasr Al Hosn site as the cultural heart of Abu Dhabi.
“Without exception, the Qasr Al Hosn Festival has grown to become a cultural highlight of the Emirate’s scene. As the symbolic birthplace of Abu Dhabi and a valuable monument of traditional Emirati heritage, Qasr Al Hosn's enduring legacy is reflected through this annual festival and is an opportunity for the community and visitors to gather and celebrate national history. We are sure the inspiring interactive programme will emphasise the nation's heritage and identity in a celebratory atmosphere,” said His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, TCA Abu Dhabi Chairman.
This year’s festival will present the outcome of the Conservation Management Plan for the urban block of Qasr Al Hosn including the fort, the National Consultative Council, and the Cultural Foundation Building. The fourth edition of the Qasr Al Hosn Festival will present ongoing conservation works and archaeological activities at the Fort, particularly the reinstatement of the 1940’s façade of the outer palace.
Qasr Al Hosn, which is the symbolic birthplace of the Emirate and home to Abu Dhabi’s ruling Al Nahyan family, continues to undergo a comprehensive process of preservation, restoration and rehabilitation. Organised by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), the festival narrates the ongoing conservation of the fort, and reinforces the Qasr Al Hosn site as the cultural heart of Abu Dhabi.
“Without exception, the Qasr Al Hosn Festival has grown to become a cultural highlight of the Emirate’s scene. As the symbolic birthplace of Abu Dhabi and a valuable monument of traditional Emirati heritage, Qasr Al Hosn's enduring legacy is reflected through this annual festival and is an opportunity for the community and visitors to gather and celebrate national history. We are sure the inspiring interactive programme will emphasise the nation's heritage and identity in a celebratory atmosphere,” said His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, TCA Abu Dhabi Chairman.
This year’s festival will present the outcome of the Conservation Management Plan for the urban block of Qasr Al Hosn including the fort, the National Consultative Council, and the Cultural Foundation Building. The fourth edition of the Qasr Al Hosn Festival will present ongoing conservation works and archaeological activities at the Fort, particularly the reinstatement of the 1940’s façade of the outer palace.
The experience will conclude at the Qasr Al Hosn Centre where visitors can tour the Qasr Al Hosn Exhibition, which will provide insight on those who dwelled in the fort and explain the significance of the buildings, outlining how the historical context of Qasr Al Hosn is now shaping the area’s master plan.
The Festival’s popular Desert, Oasis, Marine and Abu Dhabi Island zones return, with interactive activations, re-enactments and workshops. An Arena Zone will house a series of performances and family-oriented activities dedicated to themes which reflect the cultural significance of the site on the development of the Emirate and its people.
The Festival will also include a lively hub of visual and performing arts programmes, workshops, cultural and interactive learning experiences. Parts of the Cultural Foundation will once again open to the public during the Festival days, and will host a series of educational and informative exhibitions and activities through a comprehensive public programme.
The Festival’s popular Desert, Oasis, Marine and Abu Dhabi Island zones return, with interactive activations, re-enactments and workshops. An Arena Zone will house a series of performances and family-oriented activities dedicated to themes which reflect the cultural significance of the site on the development of the Emirate and its people.
The Festival will also include a lively hub of visual and performing arts programmes, workshops, cultural and interactive learning experiences. Parts of the Cultural Foundation will once again open to the public during the Festival days, and will host a series of educational and informative exhibitions and activities through a comprehensive public programme.
