UNESCO Adds Al Ayyala Dance to Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

The United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman have succeeded in inscribing the Al Ayyala traditional performing dance art on UNESCOs Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The announcement came today during the 9th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which runs until November 28, at UNESCOs headquarters in Paris, France, after the file submitted by the two countries met all the inscription criteria.

This latest accomplishment means the UAE is now the leading Arab country for the safeguard of intangible heritage and joins other successes by Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) in inscribing falconry, Al Sadu and Al Taghrouda on UNESCOs most important global heritage list. Other files pending entry include joint international files submitted by Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar to enlist children games, Al Harbiyah, the traditional Majlis and Arabic coffee.

Inscribing Al Ayyala and other heritage elements on UNESCOs list will revitalise different types of traditional performing arts, shed more light on the UAEs cultural heritage and encourage cultural diversity, human creativity and intercultural dialogue, said HE Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, TCA Abu Dhabi.

This major accomplishment is due to the close co-operation and unwavering support of the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Community Development, the Permanent Delegation of the UAE to UNESCO and other government entities, civil societies and organisations, traditional and popular art groups, cultural villages and individual researchers and creative minds.

The UAE delegation at the 9th Session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage includes representatives from TCA Abu Dhabi and the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Community Development.
Achieving Al Ayyala inscription was not an easy task and many countries failed to do so in the past with UNESCO amending the operational regulations and imposing further restrictions on the inscription process. More than 48 countries submitted their files this year and only few were approved. said Dr. Nasser Al Humairi, TCA Abu Dhabis Director of the Intangible Heritage Department.

Al Ayyala is a traditional dance performance well-known throughout the UAE. It is practiced by men of all ages and is historically tied to the desert culture and its ingrained sense of chivalry. Al Ayyala is a major social ritual that contributes to nourishing the spirit of dignity and honour for both coastal and interior communities, and is regularly performed at social occasions, especially patriotic celebrations nation-wide. It has also become an important entertainment element in weddings and other social festivities.

Poetry recital is part of Al Ayyala performances. These belong to Nabatean poetry and are accompanied by different drum rhythms. The drum types also vary between the large Al Qaseer and the Al Ras and the small Al Takhmir, Al Samaa, Al Tar, Al Damam, Al Dafoof, Al Tous, Al Rahmani and Al Kasser.

Listing Al Ayyala on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity will also ensure the continuity of the dance and the ability to pass it on to be practiced by current and future generations in the UAE and the Sultanate of Oman.