The UAE’s history, folklore, customs and cuisine is on display at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival 2016.

Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, took a tour on Sunday of the festival, being staged in Abu Dhabi.

The theme of the festival is "The UAE as a crossroads of civilisations".

The month-long Festival is named in honour of the UAE’s founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, in recognition of his pivotal role in preserving the nation’s proud history as a gateway to the future, and is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, with the support of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and under the supervision of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

Sheikh Mohammed stopped at the heritage neighbourhoods where 18 countries, including the UAE, are showcasing the daily lives of the world’s ancient civilisations, along with traditional cuisines and national heritages.

Ahmed Saeed Al Neyadi, Deputy Chairman of the Festival's Organising Committee, explained to Sheikh Mohammed about the evolution of the annual cultural and heritage event, cultural programme, exhibits and folklore events. The UAE District offers a range of traditional events evoking the country’s past customs and folklore, with local products displayed in participating shops. The UAE Traditional Crafts Area is a living museum of the old UAE, featuring stories from four unique environments: terrestrial, marine, agricultural and mountainous.

Also, HH showed interest in the diversity of local and international cuisine prepared by some forty restaurants.

Sheikh Mohammed praised the festival as a melting pot for Arab and global cultures, and a key contributor to efforts aimed at instilling national loyalty and identity in young generations, to be proud of their national, Arab and Islamic identity.

He said he hoped the annual cultural gathering would help organisers to present the UAE's culture and heritage to visitors.

Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied during the tour by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai,  H.H. Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.