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UAE, China Seek to Boost Cultural Cooperation

UAE, China Seek to Boost Cultural Cooperation
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UAE, China Seek to Boost Cultural Cooperation

UAE, China Seek to Boost Cultural Cooperation

The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Shanghai International Arts Festival to boost cultural cooperation and understanding between the UAE and China, marking four decades of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

The MoU was signed by Huda Alkhamis, Founder of ADMAF and Abu Dhabi Festival, and Li Ming, President of China Shanghai International Arts Festival, in the presence of UAE Ambassador Zhang Yiming at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi Festival and the China Shanghai International Arts Festival will collaborate on new commissions, co-productions, and cultural exchange programs for the time in the Arab world.

“This groundbreaking partnership with the China Shanghai International Arts Festival - the most influential Festival in the Asia-Pacific region - marks a historic first for the Arab world, underscoring the Abu Dhabi Festival’s pivotal role on the global stage,” Alkhamis said.

“Expanding to Shanghai allows us to harness the transformative power of the arts to build bridges, celebrate creativity, and deepen the bonds of friendship between the UAE and China,” she added.

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Hail HARFA Festival Concludes with Over 91,000 Visitors

The festival was held at the historic Al-Qishla Palace from January 5 to January 11 - SPA
The festival was held at the historic Al-Qishla Palace from January 5 to January 11 - SPA
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Hail HARFA Festival Concludes with Over 91,000 Visitors

The festival was held at the historic Al-Qishla Palace from January 5 to January 11 - SPA
The festival was held at the historic Al-Qishla Palace from January 5 to January 11 - SPA

The activities of Handicrafts Festival (HARFA) 2025 in Hail were concluded Saturday, celebrating a highly successful event that drew over 91,000 visitors.

Held at the historic Al-Qishla Palace from January 5 to January 11, the festival marked a milestone as the first of its kind, coinciding with the launch of the "Year of Handicrafts 2025."
According to SPA. the festival attracted tourists from Europe, America, Asia, the Gulf, and visitors from across Saudi Arabia. It highlighted Hail’s rich heritage of handicrafts, including wickerwork, carpentry, weaving, incense burner crafting, pottery, and clay building. Visitors admired displays of wood engraving, embroidery, wool fluffing, leather goods, daggers, swords, and Thamudic inscriptions, alongside artistic carvings on stone and traditional items such as ropes, windows, and decorative abayas.
More than 130 craftsmen and craftswomen participated, offering live demonstrations and training courses to transfer their skills to younger generations. The daily activities featured hands-on learning opportunities, complemented by awareness programs organized by entities such as the Hail Region Development Authority, the Heritage Commission, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development. These programs emphasized the economic and cultural significance of handicrafts and the role of local authorities in supporting and marketing the craft industry.
The festival also celebrated Hail’s cultural heritage through artistic folklore performances, vintage car displays, and a heritage-inspired environment featuring restaurants and cafes. Over 100 volunteers contributed to the event’s organization, fostering an inclusive and engaging atmosphere for all segments of society.
The event offered a unique blend of creativity, tradition, and community spirit, solidifying its status as a premier cultural attraction in Saudi Arabia.