Preserving Arab heritage: From Zayed National Museum to Unesco's list

In this episode of Culture Bites, hosts Enas Refaei and Farah Andrews explore how cultural heritage is preserved, celebrated and carried forward, from one of the UAE’s newly opened museums to the living traditions recognised by Unesco. The episode opens at the Zayed National Museum in Abu Dhabi, where Farah records from inside the new landmark on Saadiyat Island. In that segment, Moaza Matar, director of the curatorial and collections management department at the museum, explains how the galleries were developed to reflect the nation’s journey, from ancient history and maritime life to the formation of the modern state. She discusses how the themes were chosen and how the legacy of the UAE's Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, shapes the narrative throughout the museum. Moaza also talks about the visitor experience, beginning with the outdoor Al Masar Garden and moving through the galleries, sharing what she hopes visitors will feel and understand as they leave. Back in the studio, the episode turns to recent developments in regional culture, including the addition of Arab dishes and traditions such as koshary, bisht and zaffa to Unesco’s intangible cultural heritage list. Enas and Farah both share their thoughts on what this list means for the wider Arab culture. The hosts also give their recommendations for what to do and see this week, including Manar Abu Dhabi and A Merry Little Ex-Mas a Christmas romcom on Netflix.