The Erthi Contemporary Crafts Council (مجلس إرثي للحرف المعاصرة) is celebrating its second consecutive year at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2026, ongoing until September 6 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (أدنيك). The council will showcase two exclusive collections that highlight different facets of Emirati craftsmanship. The first is the ‘Al Thaya: Shaheen Edition’, inspired by the art of falconry, while the second is a jewellery collection created in collaboration with Emirati jeweller Adi Al-Fardan, celebrating the traditional craft of Sadeefah in honour of Emirati Women’s Day.
Continuing a Tradition of Cultural Heritage
This year’s participation builds on the council’s presence at the previous exhibition and reflects its commitment to expanding the visibility of Emirati crafts. The council aims to create new spaces that combine artisanal knowledge and design, allowing for wider interaction with cultural heritage.
The Abu Dhabi exhibition is one of the region’s prominent platforms celebrating cultural heritage associated with hunting and equestrian practices. It offers an ideal setting to present works that draw inspiration from this rich legacy to an appreciative audience.
Highlighting Falconry and Emirati Craftsmanship
Among its offerings, the council presents the ‘Al Thaya: Shaheen Edition’, an exclusive collection inspired by the aesthetics of falconry. This collection embodies the deep-rooted place of falconry in Emirati culture, reflecting values of authenticity, patience, skill, and a connection to the environment.
The collection merges Emirati craftsmanship with innovation, incorporating details derived from the Sadeefah craft into pieces made from natural leather. Designs evoke the elegance of a falcon’s wing and the intricate details of the falcon’s hood, achieving a balance between beauty and functionality through a contemporary design language.
The collection features items such as falconer gloves, iPad holders, and leather chains and ropes, crafted from natural calfskin. These pieces subtly integrate elements inspired by Sadeefah, falcon feathers, and the decorative knots of the falcon’s hood, translating this heritage into practical, meticulously crafted goods.
A Commitment to Empowerment and Innovation
Reem Bint Karm, General Manager of the Erthi Contemporary Crafts Council, remarked, “The value of Emirati craftsmanship lies not only in its ability to preserve details of the past but also in its capacity to continue generating new meanings drawn from this heritage. By participating in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition, we aim to present the world of falconry from a contemporary design perspective, highlighting the richness of this cultural heritage and affirming that craftsmanship remains a language capable of expressing identity, no matter how its tools and applications evolve.”
Regarding the collaboration with Adi Al-Fardan, Bint Karm added, “This partnership extends our mission to open new pathways for Emirati crafts and transport them into diverse creative realms. Through Sadeefah, we celebrate a craft associated with Emirati women, preserving it through generations and today granting it a new space within the world of jewellery, reflecting its ability to evolve while maintaining its identity and authenticity.”
Jewellery Inspired by Cultural Heritage
The council’s stand will also feature the exclusive collection resulting from its collaboration with Adi Al-Fardan, launched in recognition of Emirati Women’s Day. This collection reinterpret the geometric configurations and details of Sadeefah into contemporary jewellery designs that uphold the spirit and identity of this Emirati craft, while simultaneously showcasing Adi Al-Fardan’s distinct touch in jewellery design and craftsmanship.
The collection includes sets of jewellery made from 18-carat gold in white, yellow, and rose tones, embellished with precious gemstones that reflect the colours of the UAE flag—including red rubies, black diamonds, emeralds, and white diamonds. The collection will be available for one month as a limited edition, coinciding with the celebration of Emirati Women’s Day.
Workshops and Interactive Experiences
Throughout the event, the council’s pavilion has hosted a series of live workshops, including sessions on Sadeefah accessories and Talli keychains, providing visitors with the opportunity to closely engage with various traditional Emirati crafts. These workshops offered an interactive experience, allowing the public to witness the manual skills involved in creating such products and highlighting the importance of transferring artisanal knowledge to future generations in contemporary contexts.
The opening day of the Erthi Contemporary Crafts Council pavilion attracted great interest from visitors and heritage and design enthusiasts, who explored the showcased collections and engaged with the live workshops. This engagement underscores the growing appreciation for Emirati crafts and their potential to resonate within modern design requirements.
This initiative forms part of the council’s broader efforts to enhance the visibility of Emirati craftsmanship in specialised forums, reinforcing its position as a contributor to creativity and innovation, while serving as a bridge linking cultural heritage to contemporary design.