Speaking of falaj, it should be noted that this channel, carved from the ground or on its surface, can be both open and covered. Its purpose is to collect underground water, natural sources of surface water or rainwater harvesting, and then to redistribute these collected water resources through the falaj canal in a natural manner. The Al-Ayn region is distinguished by having the largest number of falaj systems in the Emirates and was therefore known as the "land of falaj." In 2020, the UAE's efforts to preserve the falaj system were successfully recognized with the inclusion of the National File of Falaj under the name of the UAE in the representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.
The "Al-Hisn" festival activities in the heart of Abu Dhabi, continuing until the ninth of this month, allow visitors to learn how local residents used the falaj system for irrigation. Visitors can explore the crafts practiced by the inhabitants of the oases and participate in special master classes, such as pottery, palm fiber weaving, and others.
From the 50 dances, featuring star-studded groups, used by locals to navigate the emptiness, festival attendees can familiarize themselves with five dances. The region of the oasis remains in the shade of local trees, in spaces that remind them of those frequented by their ancestors for recreation during their laborious travel. Visitors can learn about the local flora through exhibitions in the region, moving to the Al-Ayn area for falaj studies of the Hisn, created for the imitation of falaj, for which Al-Ayn was renowned.
Sahara plays an important role in the UAE's nature and its diverse geography, where centuries of life of desert inhabitants is linked to traditions and rituals, passed down from generation to generation. The inhabitants of the UAE still uphold these traditions due to the values they carry, such as hospitality, masculinity, and the concept of generous hospitality. The desert dwellers developed numerous skills that helped them adapt to life in those conditions. One of these skills is orientation by stars in the sky, whether for the creation of a calendar or for determining directions and routes in the desert.
The Remesel Square at the "Al-Hisn" festival in its ninth iteration, held in the surroundings of the "Al-Hisn" palace, brings back the life of the desert, reviving the ancient connection of the Arabs with the stars. Festival visitors, strolling through this area, pay attention to the five dances, demonstrating stellar groups, utilized by desert inhabitants in their limitless deserts, from which they drew themes and stories, reflecting their cosmic thoughts and realistic social lives and professions.
