Traditional crafts created at Al Ain Palace Museum - in pictures

Visitors can learn techniques including telli embroidery, sadu weaving and khoos palm frond weaving, from Emirati teachers

Running several days a week throughout the year, a group of local women teach the community skills in telli, khoos, and sadu at the handicrafts workshop at Al Ain Palace Museum. Reem Mohammed / The National

From left to right, Umm Mohammed Al Mazroui, Umm Rashed, and Umm Mohammed Al Kaabi teach several traditional handicraft techniques including telli embrodery, khoos palm frond weaving and sadu cloth weaving. Reem Mohammed / The National

Khoos palm fronds are woven into traditional items for the home and to sell. Reem Mohammed / The National

Some crafts feature several traditional techniques, such as this camel leather bag with khoos palm fronds. Reem Mohammed / The National

Umm Mohammed Al Kaabi works on sadu, which is handwoven wool traditionally used in making Bedouin tents and carpets. Reem Mohammed / The National

Umm Mohammed Al Kaabi displays a jalabiya with telli embroidery. Reem Mohammed / The National

Khoos palm fronds are woven into crafts and household products such as fans, brooms and mats. Reem Mohammed / The National

Visitors at the handicrafts workshop at Al Ain Palace Museum learn about Emirati culture and traditions from the workshop leaders. Reem Mohammed / The National

Visitors are encouraged to explore the Al Ain Palace Museum, which was built in 1937 as the residence of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It was converted into a museum in 1998 and opened to the public in 2001 and features artefacts gifted from the community. Reem Mohammed / The National

Visit the Al Ain Palace Museum this summer and take part in a handicrafts workshop as part of a series presented by the Department of Culture and Tourism with the aim to preserve and promote these traditions that have been passed down generations and are essential to Emirati culture. Photographer Reem Mohammed of The National stopped by to watch as local women Umm Mohammed Al Mazroui, Umm Rashed and Umm Mohammed Al Kaabi taught the classes.

Participants learned telli, which is embroidery with metallic threads for the edging on dresses; khoos palm frond-weaving, for creating decorations and household items such as brooms, fans and mats; sadu weaving from goat and camel wool, to create the cloth used in shelters and tents.

While you are at Al Ain Palace Museum, take the time to visit the former residence of Sheikh Zayed, Founding President of the UAE, which features original architecture from 1937 as well as artefacts gifted to the museum from the community. Everyone is welcome to attend the classes, which run on Sundays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 11am, free, Al Ain Palace Museum, Al Ain, www.visitabudhabi.ae

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