The Al Yasat Maritime Festival has become an effective platform for empowering family producers. Their participation in the festival extended beyond showcasing their products to embodying success stories that begin with simple home projects and evolve into sustainable production models, reflecting the impact of community support in turning creativity into a source of income. Organized by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture & Heritage, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, and the Abu Dhabi Marine Sports Club in strategic partnership with the UAE Council for Balanced Development, the festival concluded yesterday on the waterfront of Al Suwaih City. It provided participants with the opportunity to transform their skills and creativity into productive projects by showcasing a diverse range of products, including perfumes, handicrafts, and heritage items, which have received significant interest from visitors of all age groups. Isa Al Bulushi, one of the festival's participants, confirmed that his participation directly contributed to promoting his products, as the festival allowed him to reach a wide audience of residents and visitors in the Al Dhafra region. He noted that the perfumes he offers are crafted with special care to suit the tastes of the local community, adding that the festival provided him with an ideal platform to introduce his products and engage directly with the public. Meanwhile, Umm Nasser Muhammad explained her commitment to participating in the Al Yasat Festival, emphasizing that this experience has opened new horizons for creativity and innovation, and has helped empower family producers to develop their ideas and turn them into products with broad appeal. In turn, Hamda Salem pointed out that the Al Yasat Festival yields substantial returns for participants and helps open effective marketing and economic channels for family producers. She highlighted that such initiatives foster a culture of self-reliance and encourage the sustainability of home-based projects. The strong public turnout at the family producers' pavilions at the Al Yasat Festival reflects its success in bridging economic and social dimensions and reinforcing its role as a developmental platform that empowers families and transforms creativity into tangible opportunities for growth and continuity. Hamda Salem: • 'The festival helps open effective marketing and economic channels for family producers.' Isa Al Bulushi: • 'The festival provided me with an ideal platform to introduce my products and engage directly with the public.' • 'Simple home ideas evolve into sustainable production models.'
