100% FREETraditional Handicrafts Festival — live craft and heritage performances at Souq Al Qattara
Explore Emirati craft pavilions at Souq Al Qattara, meet skilled makers and watch live heritage performances. This dated festival brings traditional skills together for an evening in Al Ain.
Peter Dowley’s 2015 photograph of the neighbouring Al Qattara Arts Centre shows the heritage district. The 2026 festival takes place at nearby Souq Al Qattara; the photograph does not show this edition.
Al Ain, Abu Dhabi · Souq Al Qattara, Al Qattara, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi
Follow organiser directions for the exact entrance.
When to go
Open to the general public daily 16:00–midnight from 23 October through 11 November 2026. The final public evening is 11 November.
Who can go
Free public festival admission · 16:00–midnight
What’s free & what to know
- General admission is free during the public visiting window. The organiser separately advertises 08:30–13:00 for school and university visits. These morning hours are not general public access.
- Explore the craft pavilions, artisan demonstrations and live heritage performances. A specific performance or demonstration time is not published; consult the on-site programme.
- The festival welcomes the general public. No numerical age limits are published. Supervise children and check the on-site programme for suitable activities.
- Food, shopping and separately arranged activities are optional. The festival’s free admission does not confirm that individual workshops, goods or food are free.
- Check the organiser for any registration requirements or programme changes before travelling.
Sources & photo credit
Last successfully checked 10 Nov 2026. Availability can change; check with the organiser before travelling.
10 November 2026: The current Abu Dhabi Culture page explicitly confirms the 12th edition, 23 October–11 November 2026, Souq Al Qattara, free admission and public hours of 16:00–midnight. The 08:30–13:00 school/university window is separate and does not apply to general visitors. Preserve the final 11 November evening ending at midnight on 12 November. Craft demonstrations, workshops and heritage performances qualify; competitions are not promoted as obtainable giveaways.
Abu Dhabi Culture — 12th Traditional Handicrafts FestivalExperience Abu Dhabi — event dates and general visitor hours
Visit Al Ain — Souq Al Qattara address and map
Photo: Peter Dowley / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Resized and compressed to WebP, retaining the full composition. Image derivatives use the same licence as the original.