
Register of Good Safeguarding PracticesInscribed 2025Safeguarding programme for Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage element classified as register of good safeguarding practices, inscribed in 2025, practiced in United Arab Emirates.
Overview
Since the advent of oil wealth, the dispersion of Bedouin communities to cities, the gradual abandonment of pastoral activities, and the social changes associated with these processes have created threatening conditions for the art of Al Sadu weaving. The time required for artisanal production, the need for traditional knowledge about nature, and the low remuneration of craftsmanship compared to other jobs in the modern economy, as well as a growing preference for industrial fabrics, have contributed to a decline in interest among younger generations in learning this weaving technique. Between 2011 and 2023, a safeguarding programme was put in place to address the risk of disappearance of this cultural element, whose know-how is preserved by a dwindling number of older women. Thanks to the combined efforts and resources of multiple social actors, research, documentation, knowledge transfer, dissemination, marketing support, and activities to raise awareness about the element’s value and significance have been implemented in a concerted and participatory manner. As a result, the programme has not only succeeded in ensuring the continuity and transmission of the element, but also in creating employment and income-generating opportunities for a large number of people.
Cultural Significance
Countries & Communities
United Arab EmiratesFrequently Asked Questions
What type of heritage is Safeguarding programme for Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates?
Safeguarding programme for Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates is classified as register of good safeguarding practices by UNESCO.
Which countries practice Safeguarding programme for Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates?
Safeguarding programme for Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates is practiced in United Arab Emirates.
When was Safeguarding programme for Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates inscribed by UNESCO?
Safeguarding programme for Al Sadu, traditional weaving skills in the United Arab Emirates was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2025.
Data Source: UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage · Last updated: April 2026