Umm Al Quwain University, in coordination and cooperation with the Creative Center in Umm Al Quwain, the Ministry of Community Development, and Department of Tourism and Antiquities in Umm Al Quwain, organized “Umm Al Quwain from the Noble Past to Foreseeing the Future” festival to shed light on the importance of reviving the ancient heritage of the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain, inspiring people to anticipate the future of the emirate, Pursuant to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain, that the UAE has passed the stages of founding to the stages of empowerment to forseeing the future and emphasize the human focus, quality of life for citizens, and interest in science, knowledge and innovation.
The festival was attended by many prominent community figures in the emirate, and opened by His Excellency Prof. Galal Hatem - Chancellor of Umm Al Quwain University, Dr. Hani Abdel Rahman Bakr – Vice Chancellor, Prof. Haitham Abdel-Rahman Al-Samarrai - Dean of the College of Mass Communication, and Dr. Ahed Maher Abu Draz - the academic supervisor of the graduation project. The narrator and distinguished heritage researcher, Mr. Sultan bin Ghafan and the poet Ali Al-Matroushi, Mr. Abdullah Bu Oseiba, director of the Umm Al Quwain Creative Center, and a large number of young people - also participated in the festival.
The festival started after welcoming the guests and with a dialogue session with the narrator and heritage researcher Sultan bin Ghafan, who spoke about the most important stations that took place in his life since the beginning of his career with heritage before the establishment of the federation and the antiquity of Umm Al Quwain’s heritage, where the writer and narrator mentioned the most important heritage places in the emirate. The most prominent historical events and milestones witnessed by the emirate. Bin Gaffan also conducted various heritage competitions for the attendees to give them the opportunity to participate and get valuable prizes. The poet “Ali Al Matroushi” also participated in various poetic verses expressing his thanks for the kind invitation to give him the opportunity to participate in the festival, to shed light on the ancient heritage of Umm Al Quwain and the treasures of the emirate and its ancient historical buildings, as it is one of the largest historical residential sites in the Emirates, where it contains more tahn 1,000 historic buildings, some dating back more than 200 years.
The festival included traditional performances by the Al-Habban Folklore Band, highlighting the folklore arts of the United Arab Emirates, where local musical instruments filled the stage with traditional Gulf tunes, with a special performance by the Al-Habban Folklore Band.
At the conclusion of the festival, the participants were honored by His Excellency Prof. Galal Hatem, Chancellor of Umm Al Quwain University. Who invited attendees to have a tour in the exhibition of precious artifacts and pictures that express the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain in the past, and the future projects of the Emirate.