The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has included the standard UAE executing art of Al-Azi onto the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.

The decision was taken during the 12th conference of the Intergovernmental Board for the Shielding of the Intangible Social Heritage, which is currently being held on Jeju Island in South Korea and shuts on 9th December.

Al-Azi is a significant and vital cultural heritage efficiency mirroring UAE culture and Emirati culture. The art of Al-Azi relies on the repeating of rhymes without songs or balanced instruments. It is practiced at nationwide and gatherings to impart pride, loyalty and national values. It also applauds the practices of inviting and praising achievement. The performance focuses on the singer and the supporting reciters who give him addresses that emphasise his words. Reciters stand in lines behind the lead performer in a symbolic scene of unity and solidarity.

HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, said: "Al-Azi's incorporation in UNESCO's Intangible cultural Heritage Looking For Urgent Securing' checklist is reflective of our leadership's directives to support our authentic social heritage, and to emphasise on its significance in structure national identity and maintaining communication in between various generations. It likewise adds to the success of the Division of Culture and Tourist strategic goals in making certain that the UAE nationwide heritage is installed in the continuous development and progress of our nation.

In that context, Al-Azi is an important performing art which still enjoys wide public participation, highlighting its historical depth and its significant stature among elements of the UAEs authentic heritage.

The committee, which includes representatives of 24-member nations of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Convention for the Shielding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, fulfills on an annual basis to keep track of the execution of the lawful document validated by 175 countries that have actually detailed the securing of Abstract Social Heritage in their nationwide legislation. The 14-year old convention has made it possible for the launch of 140 conservation projects for living heritage in 107 nations.

HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, said: "The inscription of Al-Azi on UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding is among the favorable end results of the deepness of research and documents that the Division of Culture and Tourist has actually performed to protect the UAE social heritage and advertise at the international level, as a tool of effective intercultural communication amongst world nations."

Formerly, Al Majlis, Gahwa (Arabic coffee) and Al Razfa have actually signed up with Falconry, Al Taghrooda and Al Ayala on UNESCO's listing of Abstract Social Heritage of Mankind, while Al Sadu has been inscribed on the checklist of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humankind in need of Urgent Safeguarding.

The Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding the Abstract Social Heritage fulfills annually to check out the heritage elements and methods that are chosen for inscription on the UNESCO Listing. Its Fourth session in 2009 was kept in Abu Dhabi, after which the UAE adopted a number of suggestions and released choices that added to UNESCO's trip to accomplishing its key objectives.