Expo971 – Heritage & Handicraft Events
Our Purpose
Ras Al Khaimah Heritage Focus
Expo971 for the year 2025 focuses also on the unique heritage of the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, an important emirate of the UAE.
Ras Al Khaimah is the fourth-largest emirate in the United Arab Emirates and contains archaeological sites dating back to the eighteenth century. In the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, it became an important trading port in the region. The emirate joined the UAE in 1972.
Ras Al Khaimah city, the capital of the emirate, appears as a creek divided into two parts, the western side known as the old town and the eastern side known as Al Nakheel. It was named “Ras Al Khaimah” after a large tent that was raised to guide sailors. The city is connected to Dubai and Sharjah by a paved road and is served by an international airport.
The emirate is also distinguished by its mountain and sea heritage, which proudly stands alongside the rich cultural identities of the other Emirates, together forming the united heritage of the UAE.
Many crafts and traditions are gradually disappearing. Artisans who once made pottery, wove palm fronds, embroidered garments, and sang sea chants carry memories that today’s youth may never have seen or experienced. Expo971 offers a rare opportunity to witness these living traditions, bringing heritage closer to the new generation and making it part of their lives.
The “Crafts in Action” program will bring this heritage to life. These displays are not just demonstrations of skill but living connections to the past—an opportunity to touch, see, and feel the depth of Emirati culture. There is more to discover in every corner of the festival.
At the same time, Expo971 welcomes foreign residents and international visitors to explore the richness of Emirati culture and understand its values. It is an open invitation to engage, learn, and appreciate the beauty, artistry, and resilience that define the United Arab Emirates.
By bringing together communities, families, schools, artisans, and visitors, Expo971 ensures that heritage is not only preserved but celebrated, renewed, and carried forward into the future.