“Good tidings” It evokes the legacy of the palm tree and its place in the Emirati memory
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, July 2026:
Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) has announced the organization of the third edition of the “Good News” event, during the period from 24 to 26 July, to celebrate the date harvest season and introduce the importance of the palm tree and its place in the local culture as a national symbol and an authentic element of heritage, in addition to highlighting the inherited practices and customs that have been associated with this tree and formed part of the daily life of the community and contributed to consolidating the values of giving and solidarity among its members. This comes within the framework of the Authority’s commitments and sectoral priorities aimed at stimulating cultural tourism, preserving and preserving local heritage and enhancing its presence on the global map.
Hosted by Al Shindagha Museum, the UAE’s largest heritage museum, the event will feature a series of workshops and interactive experiences led by heritage professionals, where the visitor centre will see the ‘Cup of Ezz’ and ‘Decorating Karb’ workshops, during which participants will be able to design their own cups and decorate them with palm-tree-inspired motifs, as well as transform palm trees into innovative pieces of art in an experience that celebrates creativity and traditional craftsmanship and highlights the concepts of sustainability and recycling. The Marine Life Pavilion will also host a soap making workshop, where visitors will learn about soap making using oud, roses, natural herbs, and molds inspired by the shape of the palm.
The House of Folklore will take visitors on a journey to explore the types of Emirati dates and their uses in traditional dishes, the secrets of making date molasses and how to preserve it, as well as a ‘Bathitha Preparation’ workshop that highlights how to prepare a traditional Bathitha dessert made from dates, flour and aromatic spices. The programme will also include a series of ‘Knowledge Sharing on the Tree of Life’ sessions that will be held at Bait Al Sadu and will aim to provide visitors with live cultural experiences that will introduce visitors to the details of Emirati heritage and highlight the status of the palm tree and its associated inherited seasonal practices and customs.
Abdullah Al Obaidli, Director of Al Shindagha Museum, pointed out the importance of the “Good News” event and its role in enhancing the connection of future generations with the palm tree and the harvest of dates, pointing out that it represents a window that sheds light on one of the most important symbols associated with the Emirati identity, and provides the public with the opportunity to learn about a wide range of stories, experiences and knowledge that have been associated with the palm tree and have been part of the local culture for many decades. He said: “The palm tree is a symbol of generosity and generosity, and has contributed to the formation of many economic and social practices and traditional crafts that have been associated with it through generations, and Dubai Culture seeks through the ‘Good Times’ event to present heritage in innovative interactive ways, and enable visitors to explore the details of the date harvest season and the cultural connotations it carries that reflect the depth of the relationship between the Emirati man and his environment,” pointing out that Al Shindagha Museum represents a vital platform to highlight the richness of the local heritage through live experiences that contribute to strengthening the connection of new generations With its cultural heritage, it opens up wider horizons for visitors to understand the values, customs and traditions that have shaped the identity of society.
