The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), in partnership with UNESCO, successfully concluded a five-day advanced capacity-building workshop entitled “Community-Based Inventorying for the Sustainable Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage”, held in Al Ain from 21 to 25 September 2026. The workshop brought together 40 participants from across the United Arab Emirates and formed part of the ongoing cooperation between UNESCO and DCT Abu Dhabi to support the implementation of the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The workshop marked the eighth edition of the training series jointly organized by UNESCO and DCT Abu Dhabi. Focusing on the growing importance of community-based inventorying as a cornerstone of safeguarding living heritage, the programme highlighted how inventorying serves not only as a means of documentation but also as a dynamic tool for ensuring the continuity, transmission, and sustainable safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage through the active participation of the communities that create, maintain, and transmit it.
Over the course of five days, participants representing cultural institutions, government entities, researchers, and heritage practitioners from across the UAE strengthened their understanding of UNESCO’s methodologies for community-based inventorying. They explored principles, standards, and ethical considerations that support the meaningful participation of communities, groups, and individual heritage bearers throughout all stages of inventorying, documentation, validation, and updating processes.
Building on previous capacity-building initiatives, the programme examined how inventorying can evolve into an active safeguarding mechanism. Particular emphasis was placed on community engagement, inclusive representation, ethical approaches, the application of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and the integration of inventorying into safeguarding policies, cultural planning, and sustainable heritage management strategies.
Consistent with UNESCO’s participatory approach to capacity development, the workshop combined expert-led sessions with practical exercises, group discussions, international case studies, and field-based activities. Participants exchanged experiences and explored international good practices in community-based inventorying, drawing insights from diverse geographical and cultural contexts while identifying approaches relevant to the UAE context.
The workshop was facilitated by Dr. Hani Hayajneh of Jordan and Dr. Ahmed Skounti of Morocco, both members of UNESCO’s Global Facilitators Network for Intangible Cultural Heritage. Their expertise was complemented by contributions from UNESCO specialists, including Jawida Mansour from the UNESCO Regional Office for the Gulf States and Yemen and Meeza Obaid from UNESCO’s AlUla Project, who shared practical lessons and experiences from community-based inventorying and safeguarding initiatives implemented in collaboration with local communities in Pakistan.
Throughout the programme, participants developed practical skills in documentation and fieldwork methodologies, including interviews, participant observation, focus groups, photography, audiovisual documentation, and participatory mapping. These approaches were applied during fieldwork activities conducted with local communities in Al Ain, allowing participants to test and refine their skills while reflecting on safeguarding opportunities and challenges identified through direct engagement with heritage bearers.
The workshop also provided an opportunity to celebrate the United Arab Emirates’ notable achievements under the 2003 Convention. Recent successes, including the inscription of elements such as Alheda’a, the Bisht, the Traditional Wedding Procession (Zaffa), and Arabic Kohl on UNESCO’s Representative list, as well as the transfer of Al Sadu weaving from the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding to the Representative List, demonstrate the richness of the UAE’s living heritage and the effectiveness of ongoing national and regional safeguarding efforts.
As the international community approaches the celebration of the International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage on 17 October, the workshop further highlighted the importance of raising awareness of living heritage as anable development. Participants reflected on the vital role of communities in ensuring that intangible cultural heritage remains a vibrant and evolving re
The workshop concluded with discussions on how inventorying can contribute to sustainable safeguarding strategies through the identification of threats and challenges, the development of appropriate safeguarding measures, and enhanced cooperation among communities, DCT Abu Dhabi, UNESCO, and relevant stakeholders. Participants emphasized that the success of community-based inventorying is measured not only by the number of heritage elements documented, but by its ability to empower communities to identify, celebrate, and safeguard their own living heritage.
Through this continued partnership, DCT Abu Dhabi and UNESCO reaffirmed their shared commitment to strengthening national capacities, promoting community participation, and advancing innovative approaches to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage across the United Arab Emirates.
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