Folktales About Water from the UAE Heritage

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) published a collection of illustrated folktales about the history of water in the UAE and its importance for the country in both Arabic and English languages. These local stories were published along with the launch of the "Water: H2O = Life" Exhibition, organized by ADACH in cooperation with the American Museum of Natural History. The exhibition, which will be held from September 19, 2011 to January 5, 2012 at Qasr al Hosn Exhibition Center in Abu Dhabi, offers visitors first-hand information about the power of water and its importance in nature and our daily lives, while shedding light on the challenges we faced for the sustainable management of this vital, but limited, resource. The collection of folktales, illustrated by Emirati artist, Wafa Al Marzouqi, focuses on just that and consists of five interesting stories: “The Consequence of Greediness”, “The Caretaker of Al-Sa’an ‘Saka’ ”, “Gazelles’ Pond”, “Suwaylim Bid’a and “The Fox and the Chicken". It is presented among heritage tributaries of the water exhibition where the stories vary in their titles but have one common factor; water in the UAE heritage. These folktales, aimed at children and youth, are used to instill cultural values and remind people about the hardships their past generations endured due to the scarcity of water. The exhibition is categorized by eight sections: Life in Water, Blue Planet, Water Works, Water Everywhere, Not a Drop, Healthy Water Healthy Lives, Restoring Ecosystems and finally, the Local Stories of people who have pledged to protect and preserve water resources in the UAE. With more than 90 subjects, models, sculptures, and through the use of interactive and three-dimensional environments, the "Water: H2O = Life" exhibition reveals the multicultural aspects of water, its role in art and civilization, and its unique ability to enrich our human experience and cultural heritage.