If your Al Ain plans usually stop at the oasis, this one deserves a spot in your diary. The 12th Traditional Handicrafts Festival returns to Souq Al Qattara on October 23 and runs until November 11, 2026, with free entry on every day.
Al Ain’s Free Heritage Festival Is Back From Oct 23rd
Across 20 days, artisans, local families and designers will fill the souq with live demonstrations, workshops, performances and games. It is made for anyone who wants to see how Emirati skills pass from one generation to the next, rather than simply read about them.
Watch The Crafts Being Made
Live demonstrations place artisans at their workstations, so you can follow a piece from raw material to finished object. The Craft of the Week programme then zooms in on one tradition at a time, covering its materials, techniques and history. Over at the Designers’ Space, local designers show how heritage can be reworked into contemporary pieces.
Falconry, Music And Al Ayyala
Falconry is part of the line-up, offering a closer look at a practice that remains tied to Emirati identity. The Music Pavilion links craft with sound, and the performances programme includes live sessions such as Sounds of the UAE. Would you rather join in than watch? The Al Ayyala Workshop teaches the basic movements of the traditional cane dance.
Follow The Al Maqith Exhibition
This exhibition traces a route from Al Ain’s oasis to the UAE coastline. It shows how different landscapes shaped the way people lived, and the traditions that grew around them. It adds useful context to everything else you will see around the souq, from the crafts to the food.
Shop Local And Make Your Own Achar
The Traditional Souq brings Emirati artisans, productive families and small businesses together in the Youth Retail Zone, so you can buy handmade products from the people who made them. Food gets its own corner at Bkhar Al Bait, where you prepare your own achar, a type of pickle, and carry the jar home.
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Plenty For The Kids
Children are well looked after. Carnival Games and the Emirati Traditional Games area offer friendly competition inspired by pastimes from everyday life in the UAE, while the Puppet Theatre retells local stories through puppetry. Easy to turn into a full family evening.
Where: Souq Al Qattara, Al Ain
Dates: October 23 to November 11, 2026
Timings: 4 pm to midnight for general visitors; 8.30am to 1 pm for school and university groups
Entry: Free
Cover Image Courtesy: Abu Dhabi Culture/Website
FAQs
When and where is the Traditional Handicrafts Festival 2026?
The 12th edition takes place at Souq Al Qattara in Al Ain from October 23 to November 11, 2026. That is 20 days of programming.
Is entry to the festival free?
Yes. Entry is free for everyone. Some activities, such as buying products at the souq, will cost whatever the individual stalls charge.
What can I do at the festival?
You can watch live craft demonstrations, follow the Craft of the Week programme, see falconry, attend the Al Ayyala Workshop, explore the Al Maqith Exhibition, shop at the Traditional Souq and make your own achar at Bkhar Al Bait. There are also Carnival Games, Emirati Traditional Games and a Puppet Theatre for children.
