Whether curious about what pre-oil life looked like in the UAE, or hoping to put a couple weeks worth of Arabic classes to the test, students at NYU Abu Dhabi had the chance to explore local heritage at the city’s Qasr al Hosn festival from Feb. 11-21. Organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, the festival showcased the past, present and future of the UAE, with events clustered into five sections boasting names such as The Oasis and The Desert.

This year, the Arabic department and the core course Representations, organized several expeditions to the festival, along with visits arranged by Student Life for interested students.

Arabic Language Instructor Laila Familiar, who helped facilitate the trips, sees immersive experiences as being a valuable part of the Arabic department’s curriculum, especially for students beginning to learn the language.

“Using the language outside of the classroom is essential for learners to gain confidence in their abilities,” said Familiar. “I firmly believe that culture cannot be solely learned in the classroom."

For many students, the festival offered a unique exposure to Khaleeji, the Arabic dialect specific to the UAE, and gave them the chance to practice speaking and writing.

“Exposure to real life experiences and hands-on activities is a must if we really want to engage our students in the local culture and if we want to keep them motivated to continue studying Arabic long term,” added Familiar. “One of the greatest advantages of the Arabic program at NYUAD is its location: Abu Dhabi is a city where cultural events take place continuously.”

Visitors to the festival were able to explore any of the sections and learn more about a specific aspect of UAE history, while also receiving hands-on experience in different crafts and tasting local cuisine. This year’s festival also featured the exhibit entitled Lest We Forget: Structures of Memory in the United Arab Emirates, which was hosted by La Biennale di Venezia and explored the intersection between architecture and identity in a rapidly developing UAE.

“Qasr Al Hosn was an amazing experience,” said freshman Aiman Khurram. “They had some really cool activities going on to attract people. It was nice to see so many locals at one place — especially the kids.”