جمعية النهضة النسائية بدبي has launched a hands-on programme at Quranic Park, putting the creative legacy of Emirati women straight into the hands of Dubai's students. The initiative, called "قصة وطن تُروى بأيدٍ إماراتية", goes beyond marking Emirati Women's Day. It turns heritage, art, and national identity into a living classroom. This year, the Emirates Women's Day campaign stretches into a month-long series of events from August 28 to September 28. The campaign marks 50 years of the UAE's women's agenda under the theme "We Emerge Stronger and Better / Together, We Rise Stronger and Better", as reported by Emirates News Agency (WAM) and Al Ittihad.
Instead of sitting through lectures, students from مدرسة دار المعرفة الخاصة get to shape their own understanding of UAE culture. The first phase took them on a guided tour of Quranic Park. Dubai Municipality describes the park as a leading cultural and educational spot for families and schools, not just a religious site. After the tour, students joined a group discussion about the values Emirati women stand for-generosity, ambition, and responsibility-and how the younger generation can carry those values forward.
The real shift came when students picked up their tools. In a workshop focused on image decoration, they used traditional teli embroidery and other artistic touches to create their own takes on what it means to be an Emirati woman. Each piece became a personal statement, mixing art with national pride. Programmes like this fit into the UAE's wider push to protect intangible heritage through youth education, especially during national celebrations and cultural campaigns, as seen in official cultural programmes.
The session ended with a simple but powerful act. Each student wrote a message of thanks to an Emirati woman who had made a difference in society, sealing it with wax as a sign of remembrance. This hands-on gesture drives home the programme's goal: making sure the story of Emirati women is not just remembered, but retold by new voices. The 2026 commemorations, according to WAM, will focus on the achievements of Emirati women in government, education, science, advocacy, and their role in national development.
Workshops revive heritage skills for a new generation
The programme is just getting started. Two more workshops are planned, each highlighting a different part of traditional Emirati craft. Next, students will learn the art of perfume-making. They'll explore the ingredients and methods behind classic Emirati scents, then design their own fragrance. The final session will teach students how to sew teli onto handbags, giving them a direct link to one of the UAE's most iconic textile arts and a chance to make something useful that carries cultural meaning.
This approach turns heritage from something static into a hands-on experience. By letting students work with the crafts and stories of Emirati women, organisers hope to build a deeper, lasting connection to national identity-one that textbooks alone can't provide. Getting students involved in traditional crafts is part of a bigger movement across the UAE to protect cultural heritage, supported by ongoing efforts from the Ministry of Culture and Youth and Dubai Municipality.
Dubai's wider push for cultural continuity
Dubai's work to support local talent and preserve heritage goes beyond this programme. As reported earlier, the city has sent young Emirati engineers abroad to learn from global urban innovation. This is part of a broader plan to blend tradition with new skills. Dubai's cultural and educational investments line up with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to double the city's economy and strengthen its place as a global hub for talent and innovation, according to Dubai Chamber updates.
What makes "قصة وطن تُروى بأيدٍ إماراتية" stand out is its focus on student agency. By giving young women the tools and space to interpret, honor, and reinvent their heritage, the programme does more than mark a single day. It sets the stage for a future where the story of Emirati women is rewritten by those living it. This kind of grassroots involvement keeps Dubai's cultural legacy alive and relevant in the hands of the next generation. Ongoing support from government and quasi-governmental bodies, as documented by Sharjah24 and WAM, shows the national priority placed on empowering women and youth through education and cultural continuity.
