Where Emirati Folklore Is Kept Alive

Introduction

In the United Arab Emirates, folklore is not preserved only in old storybooks or tales of jinn. Much of it survives in living social spaces where people gather, talk, recite poetry, drink coffee and perform traditions together. The majlis—the traditional gathering place found in homes, communities and public institutions—is one of the most important settings for this process. Here, memories are shared, family histories are repeated, local legends are retold and cultural values are passed from one generation to the next. UNESCO recognised the majlis as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015, describing it as a cultural and social space central to community life.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgICHUnited Arab EmiratesAlheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks. United Arab Emirates. Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices. United…

Understanding Emirati folklore therefore means looking beyond supernatural beings and famous legends. It also means understanding how stories are performed, remembered and transmitted. The majlis, together with traditional poetic and musical performances, functions as a living archive of collective memory, allowing older experiences of desert travel, pearl diving, tribal alliances, hospitality and national identity to remain meaningful in a rapidly modernising society.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgICHUnited Arab EmiratesAlheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks. United Arab Emirates. Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices. United…

Coffee, Conversation and the Social Setting of Stories

The majlis is often described as a place of hospitality, discussion and consultation, but it is equally important as a storytelling environment. Traditionally, people gathered in the evening to exchange news, discuss community affairs and recount memorable events. Folktales, family histories, humorous anecdotes and moral lessons could all be woven naturally into conversation. Unlike written literature, these narratives were flexible. A story changed slightly depending on the storyteller, the audience and the occasion.

Coffee rituals are an important part of this atmosphere. Arabic coffee, itself recognised by UNESCO as a symbol of generosity and social connection, helps structure the gathering. Serving coffee is not simply refreshment; it establishes a setting in which conversation can unfold and relationships can be maintained. Within that social framework, stories become tools for teaching manners, reinforcing identity and preserving memory.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgICHUnited Arab EmiratesAlheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks. United Arab Emirates. Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices. United…

This helps explain why Emirati folklore often survives through spoken performance rather than fixed texts. Older generations did not always separate history, wisdom, poetry and storytelling into different categories. A remembered event, a tribal anecdote and a moral tale could coexist in the same conversation. The majlis gave these forms a regular place in everyday life.

For folklore researchers, this is significant. The transmission of culture happened through repeated social encounters rather than through formal publication. Stories remained alive because they were continually retold, debated and adapted to new circumstances.

How Performance Turns Memory into Heritage

Many Emirati traditions preserve memory through performance rather than through straightforward narration. Poetry, chanting and collective recitation transform historical experience into something that can be heard, repeated and remembered.

This is especially important in societies where mobility, oral communication and communal gatherings historically played larger roles than written records. Before the creation of modern archives and museums, poetry and performance helped communities remember journeys, conflicts, acts of generosity and shared values.

These performances are not merely entertainment. They are acts of cultural remembrance. Through repetition, audiences encounter fragments of older ways of life—desert travel, tribal solidarity, endurance, honour and hospitality—that might otherwise fade from public memory.

Al-Taghrooda and the Voice of the Desert

One of the clearest examples is Al-Taghrooda, a form of Bedouin chanted poetry recognised by UNESCO in 2012. Traditionally performed by camel riders travelling across desert landscapes, it consists of short poetic exchanges between groups of men. The verses often deal with friendship, courage, love, endurance and everyday experiences.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgUNESCO ICHAl-Taghrooda, traditional Bedouin chanted poetry in the…Al-Taghrooda traditional Bedouin chanted poetry is composed and reci…

Although its origins lie in travel and herding life, Al-Taghrooda survives today at festivals, cultural events, weddings and heritage celebrations. UNESCO notes that the tradition has been transmitted through families and community elders, helping younger generations connect with older forms of desert culture.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgUNESCO ICHAl-Taghrooda, traditional Bedouin chanted poetry in the…Al-Taghrooda traditional Bedouin chanted poetry is composed and reci…

What makes Al-Taghrooda especially important for performed memory is its relationship to place. The poetry emerged from movement through the desert, and many verses preserve emotional connections to landscapes, journeys and social relationships. Abu Dhabi cultural heritage initiatives describe it as a form that expresses the essence of Bedouin life and documents aspects of traditional experience.[abudhabiculture.ae]abudhabiculture.aeOpen source on abudhabiculture.ae.

In this sense, Al-Taghrooda functions as a portable memory system. Long after camel caravans ceased to dominate everyday life, the poetry continues to carry stories of that world into the present.

Al Azi and Public Praise as Historical Memory

Another important tradition is Al Azi, recognised by UNESCO as an art of performing praise, pride and fortitude poetry. Unlike informal storytelling, Al Azi is often delivered in ceremonial settings before groups of listeners. The performer recites verses celebrating honour, courage, community achievements and collective identity.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgICHUnited Arab EmiratesAlheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks. United Arab Emirates. Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices. United…

The significance of Al Azi lies partly in its role as public remembrance. Through praise poetry, communities commemorate notable people, memorable events and shared values. The performance does not simply celebrate the past; it actively recreates it in front of an audience.

Because the tradition emphasises pride, resilience and continuity, it has become an important cultural symbol in contemporary heritage programmes. What might once have been a local expression of tribal identity now also contributes to a broader national narrative about Emirati history and cultural continuity.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgICHUnited Arab EmiratesAlheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks. United Arab Emirates. Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices. United…

Al-Ayyala and Memory Through Collective Performance

If Al-Taghrooda preserves memory through poetry, Al-Ayyala preserves it through a combination of movement, music and verse. UNESCO describes Al-Ayyala as a traditional performing art involving two facing rows of performers accompanied by drums and poetic chanting. The performance symbolically evokes scenes of collective action, solidarity and martial readiness.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgUNESCO ICHAl-Ayyala, a traditional performing art of the Sultanate…Al-Ayyala is a popular and expressive cultural performance practise…

Today Al-Ayyala appears at weddings, national celebrations, festivals and state ceremonies throughout the UAE. Participants may include men, women and younger performers, reflecting its broad role in community life.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgUNESCO ICHAl-Ayyala, a traditional performing art of the Sultanate…Al-Ayyala is a popular and expressive cultural performance practise…

For audiences, the importance of Al-Ayyala is not that it reproduces a historical event exactly. Rather, it creates an emotional connection to ideas associated with the past: unity, cooperation, bravery and shared identity. Through rhythm, chanting and coordinated movement, performers embody memories that might otherwise exist only as abstract historical concepts.

This explains why Al-Ayyala remains highly visible in public heritage presentations. It is a performance that allows history to be experienced collectively rather than merely described.[UNESCO]unesco.orgdocument 3658Al-Ayyala: A Traditional Performing Art | Intangible Heritage6 Nov 2014 — Al-Ayyala is a popular cultural performance practised in…

From Everyday Tradition to National Heritage

One striking feature of modern Emirati folklore is the transformation of local practices into nationally recognised heritage. Traditions that once belonged primarily to particular tribes, regions or occupations are increasingly presented as part of a shared national culture.

UNESCO inscriptions have played a role in this process. The UAE has supported the recognition of traditions such as the majlis, Al-Taghrooda, Al-Ayyala, Al Azi and Arabic coffee, helping bring international attention to practices that were historically transmitted through families and local communities.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgICHUnited Arab EmiratesAlheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks. United Arab Emirates. Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices. United…

This heritage-making process has advantages and challenges. On one hand, official recognition encourages preservation, documentation and public awareness. On the other, traditions that were once flexible and locally varied can become standardised when presented as national symbols. Folklore scholars often note that living traditions constantly change, while heritage programmes sometimes encourage more fixed versions of them.

In the UAE, both processes occur simultaneously. Traditional performances continue to evolve even as cultural institutions work to preserve them.

Archives, Museums and Heritage-Making Today

Modern institutions increasingly help safeguard the memories once preserved primarily through oral transmission. The National Library and Archives has developed oral-history projects and digital initiatives designed to record narratives, testimonies and cultural memories before they disappear. Its public heritage programmes explicitly describe preserving the nation’s memory as part of their mission.[nla.ae]nla.aet in it UAE historical and heritage stories in documented words, photos and…Read more…

Museums, heritage villages and cultural festivals also provide new stages for traditional storytelling and performance. What was once heard mainly in a family majlis may now be encountered in a museum programme, heritage festival or educational event. These settings allow younger generations—many of whom grew up in highly urbanised environments—to encounter traditions rooted in older desert, oasis and coastal ways of life.

Yet the majlis remains important precisely because it offers something institutions cannot fully replicate. Museums can preserve recordings and artefacts, but living memory depends on interaction. Stories gain meaning when people gather, respond, question and add their own recollections.

For that reason, the majlis continues to occupy a special place in Emirati cultural life. It is both a social space and a memory space—a place where folklore survives not simply because it is preserved, but because it is performed, shared and made relevant again with every gathering.[UNESCO ICH]ich.unesco.orgICHUnited Arab EmiratesAlheda'a, oral traditions of calling camel flocks. United Arab Emirates. Date palm, knowledge, skills, traditions and practices. United…

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Endnotes

1. Source: ich.unesco.org
Title: ICHUnited Arab Emirates
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/en/state/united-arab-emirates-AE?info=elements-on-the-lists

2. Source: nla.ae
Link:https://www.nla.ae/en/news/the-national-library-and-archives-presents-aspects-of-uaes-history-and-heritage-to-the-world-in-cooperation-with-google-art-culture/

3. Source: ich.unesco.org
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/al-taghrooda-traditional-bedouin-chanted-poetry-in-the-united-arab-emirates-and-the-sultanate-of-oman-00744

4. Source: abudhabiculture.ae
Link:https://abudhabiculture.ae/en/cultural-resources/publications/al-taghrooda

5. Source: ich.unesco.org
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/al-ayyala-a-traditional-performing-art-of-the-sultanate-of-oman-and-the-united-arab-emirates-01012

6. Source: unesco.org
Title: document 3658
Link:https://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/document-3658

7. Source: ich.unesco.org
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/en/lists

8. Source: ich.unesco.org
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/en/video/16675

9. Source: ich.unesco.org
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/al-taghrooda-traditional-bedouin-chanted-poetry-in-the-united-arab-emirates-and-the-sultanate-of-oman-00744?call=film&id=11403&include=film_inc.php&width=700

10. Source: ich.unesco.org
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/en/video/33501

11. Source: ich.unesco.org
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/en/video/48887

12. Source: ich.unesco.org
Title: 16425 EN.doc
Link:https://ich.unesco.org/doc/src/16425-EN.doc

13. Source: newarab.com
Title: UNESCO recognises cultural heritage of Middle Easts date palms
Link:https://www.newarab.com/News/2019/12/11/UNESCO-recognises-cultural-heritage-of-Middle-Easts-date-palms

Additional References

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Link:https://dct.gov.ae/en/media.centre/news/uae.leads.successful.re.registration.of.falconry.on.unesco.representative.list.of.the.intangible.cultural.heritage.of.humanity.aspx

18. Source: hoteliermiddleeast.com
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Title: List of Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in the United Arab Emirates
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Title: al taghrooda poetry traditional bedouin chanted poetry
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