Heritage Village

Heritage Village is an open-air cultural museum in Abu Dhabi that recreates traditional Emirati life before the country’s rapid modernization. Located on the Corniche Breakwater near Marina Mall, it is one of the city’s best-known heritage attractions, offering free admission and a hands-on introduction to the history, crafts, and daily life of the UAE.

What to see

Visitors walk through reconstructed Bedouin tents, mud-brick homes, a traditional mosque, and an old-style souk (market). Artisans regularly demonstrate traditional skills such as pottery, weaving, glass blowing, and metalworking, while museum exhibits display tools, fishing equipment, and artifacts that illustrate how Emiratis lived before the oil era.

Why it matters

The village serves as a living museum dedicated to preserving and showcasing the cultural heritage of the UAE. Rather than focusing only on objects behind glass, it recreates everyday environments from desert, coastal, and oasis communities, helping visitors understand traditional architecture, crafts, and ways of life that shaped the nation before its modern development.