Modern artistry meets traditional crafts in Abu Dhabi

With its assortment of glittering skyscrapers, Abu Dhabi’s skyline is characteristic of the city itself—futuristic, modern, and progressive. However, this bustling and ambitious capital is very much rooted in traditional Emirati values. Abu Dhabi’s crafts scene offers perfect examples of how the city marries tradition with modernity, with artisans putting a modern spin on age-old craftsmanship techniques.

As a UNESCO City of Music, Abu Dhabi has a heritage of traditional music. At the center of this stands the oud, a pear-shaped, guitar-like instrument whose rich, melodic sound has become synonymous with the emirate. Faisal Al Saari (pictured here), a celebrated oud musician and composer, has dedicated his career to preserving the artistry of the instrument while keeping it relevant in a modern and global context. The musician diligently practices his craft for hours daily; part of his study schedule involves playing Spanish, Italian, Hindi, and German songs.

Bait Al Oud (House of Oud) was founded in 2008 to help preserve traditional Arabic music heritage, with an emphasis on the oud. The center in Abu Dhabi does this by teaching students how to play the instrument while promoting the continuation of the songs and techniques associated with it. Bait Al Oud also features an in-house workshop where the instrument is lovingly handmade by expert craftspeople. The different types of material that can be used to make the oud lead to different sounds, so each instrument is unique. Players therefore have individual preferences that are often reflected in the oud they choose.

Visitors can witness master craftspeople like Amr Fawzi (pictured here) making the oud from the world’s finest cedar and rosewood at the Bait Al Oud workshop. The labor-intensive process involves various stages, including the wetting and bending of wooden strips to shape the instrument’s body. The craftspeople select and carve the wood for each instrument in a way that enables musicians to accurately tune the strings to the highest notes. While these oud-making techniques take place in a modern setting, they have changed very little over time.

Magnificent examples of traditional craftmanship juxtaposed with the more contemporary can be seen in the architecture and design of Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi. The dazzling Great Hall showcases Middle Eastern craftmanship through an expanse of geometric mosaics, which are reflected across modern mirrored cubes. This striking contrast is characteristic of the cultural landmark, which incorporates traditional craft with the added flair of art installations throughout its many rooms and exhibitions. The working palace is also open to the general public.

If you ever find yourself at the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque during a major Islamic holiday such as Eid al-Fitr, you’ll be mesmerized by the collective energy of thousands of worshippers praying in unison. Illuminating the horizon of the city, the mosque is another striking example of contemporary design intersecting with traditional craftsmanship. The mosque, which combines various Islamic architectural styles with modern technology, took 12 years to be completed at a reported cost of around $545 million.

Abu Dhabi’s buzzy souks are awash with different products waiting to be discovered, from traditional to modern, local to imported, and handcrafted to machine-made. The carpet souk is a maze of more than a hundred shops, such as the one pictured, which is run by Afghans Gihulam Nabi, Ashraf Khan, and Haq Nawaz Khan (from left to right). The souk’s various stores stock Afghan and Iranian handmade carpets in traditional designs; machine-made carpets and rugs from Turkey, China and Central Asia; and various cushions, upholstery, and prayer rugs.

The diverse landscapes of the UAE, from deserts to oases and the coast, inspired artisans to develop traditional skills that helped them to meet functional and economic needs. These skills, which were passed down from generation to generation, are preserved at the House of Artisans in Abu Dhabi, where visitors can attend training courses and educational workshops. A form of traditional weaving known as al-sadu is one such skill that is kept alive at the cultural association. This labor-intensive type of weaving features vibrant, geometrical designs and was used to create tents and decorate tent dividers.