Henna Listed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage by Abu Dhabi Department

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has announced exciting news. Henna has now officially been added to UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This marks an important moment as henna becomes the 16th tradition from the UAE to be included on this special list since falconry was added in 2010.

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The decision to include henna was made during a meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay, from December 2 to December 7, 2024. The meeting brought together experts who approved henna’s addition because it follows all the rules of UNESCO’s 2003 agreement, which works to protect and save important cultural traditions from around the world.

During the same meeting, Jordan also joined other Arab countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar in supporting Arabic coffee, which was added to the UNESCO list in 2015.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, the UAE Minister of Culture, shared his happiness about this success. He said, “We are very proud to see this achievement. This shows the rich history and culture of the Arab world and the shared values that connect us as Arab nations.” He also mentioned that the UAE is committed to protecting its traditions and sharing them with future generations because they are part of the country’s history and identity.

Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, also shared his thoughts. He said, “Henna is an important part of our traditions. It is used at weddings, festivals, and other special moments. Henna represents happiness, art, and creativity in our culture.”

He added that this recognition by UNESCO helps the UAE share its cultural traditions with the world and protect them for the future. He also said, “We will continue to protect this beautiful tradition and work to ensure its future.”

Henna has been part of celebrations and rituals for many years. It has also been used for healing and is a symbol of joy in special events. With this recognition by UNESCO, henna will always be remembered as an important part of the UAE’s history and cultural heritage.