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Capital plans first marine exhibition

ABU DHABI - The capital will soon have the first marine exhibition where a wide collection of seashells, marine flora and fauna, pearls, coral reefs and other marine life treasures will be showcased.

The exhibition, to be set up by the Emirates Heritage Club at the Heritage Village on the Breakwater, will be open to public seven days a week. A commercial section will be set up for sale of marine items souvenirs which will be collected from the Gulf and other parts of the world, according to Ahmed A. Al Khaja, Adviser, Heritage and Islands Affairs Department at the Club.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Mr Khaja said there would be a special section for designing and manufacturing items made of seashells, coral reefs etc.

The exhibition will also comprise a section for manufacturing wooden boat and ship replicas. Boat souvenirs will be sold at the village and a sales outlet specially set up at the Marina Mall.

This section will be of special interest to tourists who will find a wide collection of souvenirs sold at competetive prices, said Mr Khaja, who himself is a well-known UAE artist. His tasks also include designing and drawing heritage-related symbols many of which can be seen at various locations in the city.

Another salient feature of the exhibition will be the Date Palm Products Section where a wide range of items made of the date palm tree including date fruit syrups, jams and beverages, and building materials and handicrafts produced from the trunks and leaves, will be displayed and sold.

A traditional Kahwa (cofee shop) will be set up in the corner of the exhibition to offer visitors Arabian Kahwa and dates in a traditional Arabian hospitality way. Snacks and beverages will also be offered at the Kahwa. To better showcase local heritage, drawings and paintings of objects related to bedouin and marine life by famous local artists will be displayed at the Permanent Art Show which is also planned.

Ali Salim Al Rumaithi, Director of the Heritage Village, said the establishment of exhibition was part of a major renovation of the village. All existing sections of the village will be expanded to include new structures.

The project aims at promoting the Heritage Village as a tourist landmark in the capital and help present the country's heritage to foreigners, he said.

Spread over a 1,600 square metre site overlooking the Corniche, the Heritage Village is run by the Club. Visitors can journey to the past and experience traditional life in Abu Dhabi before oil revenues altered the landscape, economically and socially.

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