In its New Issue: (Marawid) Celebrates Folk Arts and the Rhythms of the World
Sharjah, 15 March 2026
The 84th issue of (Marawid) magazine, published by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, has been released, celebrating a main feature titled “Folk Arts… Rhythms of the World.” The issue highlights the sources of local folk arts and their intersections with the arts of the Arab region and the wider world, in addition to those that have been inscribed on the UNESCO lists of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
In the editorial of the issue, published in February 2026 as part of the magazine’s tenth year, Dr. Abdulaziz Al Musallam, Chairman of the Institute, affirms that cultural heritage represents a mirror of civilizations. He notes that the rich and diverse heritage of the UAE is the result of a long history of cultural exchange, where trade and travel by land and sea connected the region with places such as India, Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia, contributing to interaction with global arts and musical rhythms.
The issue’s dossier includes studies and articles by several contributors to the magazine, including Fahd Al-Maamari, Ali Al-Abdan, Salem Zayed Al-Tunaiji, Aisha Al-Ghais, and Fatima Sultan Al-Mazrouei. Their writings explore folk arts as a bridge of communication among peoples, including Al-Ahela art, which was recently inscribed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The issue also features reviews of books and studies on art and heritage, while shedding light on places deeply rooted in collective memory, such as Liwa in the UAE and Tiwi District in the Sultanate of Oman. It further highlights the role of folk troupes in safeguarding heritage, including the Sharjah National Band and the Zeina Sharjah Gulf Arts Band, in addition to various cultural articles and topics that enrich readers’ knowledge in literature, arts, and heritage