Al Ain’s historic Souq Al Qattara is set for a busy evening on Thursday 20 November 2025, when the Traditional Handicrafts Festival reaches its closing day after a three week run. The 11th edition, held from Saturday 1 November to Thursday 20 November 2025, celebrates Emirati crafts under the theme “A Journey through Community Traditional Craftsmanship” as part of the UAE’s Year of Community. The programme brings together artisans, families, school groups and visitors from across the Emirates through live demonstrations, music, food and workshops. Morning hours cater to students, while evenings turn the souq into a lively open air celebration of heritage. The closing day on Thursday 20 November 2025 will again welcome school groups from 8:00 to 13:00 and the general public from 16:00 to 23:00 at Souq Al Qattara in Al Ain (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Heritage platform rooted in community life
The festival now sits firmly on Abu Dhabi’s cultural calendar as a key platform for traditional crafts and industries. Under the patronage of the Ruler’s Representative in the Al Ain Region and organised by the culture authorities, it supports families who work in crafts by giving them space to sell, demonstrate and teach. The 2025 edition places strong emphasis on the Year of Community, highlighting how crafts connect generations and neighbourhoods across the oasis city. Visitors encounter not only products for sale but also stories of how each craft fits into daily life, from palm frond work to coffee service. Organisers present the festival as a way to keep skills alive while also creating new economic opportunities for craftspeople (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
What to experience on the closing day
On the final day, visitors can still explore the four major craft pavilions that anchor the programme. One area focuses on Emirati coffee, with demonstrations of roasting, grinding and serving rituals accompanied by storytelling and children’s sessions. Nearby, weaving and palm frond crafts show techniques such as Al Sadu and Khous, often with hands on opportunities for visitors who want to try simple patterns. A fashion themed pavilion highlights traditional clothing, perfumes and accessories, including live perfume blending, incense making and tailoring. Metal and leather craftsmen complete the picture with demonstrations of sword, dagger and household item making, turning the souq into a living workshop rather than a static display (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Timings, entry and who the festival suits
Throughout the festival period, students visit in the morning and the wider public arrives later in the day. On weekdays including Thursday 20 November, the gates open for school groups from 8:00 to 13:00, with the general public welcomed from 16:00 to 23:00; on weekends, evening hours extend until midnight to accommodate more families and late visitors. These timings create a quieter educational atmosphere in the morning and a more festive, social mood after sunset. The long evening opening hours suit people driving from other Emirates who cannot arrive before work ends. Entry is free of charge for everyone, which makes the festival an accessible outing for families, couples and solo visitors planning either a short stop or a full evening in the souq (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Souq Al Qattara setting and oasis trails
Souq Al Qattara itself is a restored heritage market, built around shaded walkways, arcades and small shops that once served the surrounding oasis communities. During the festival, the traditional architecture combines with temporary pavilions to create intimate lanes filled with music, craft smells and the sound of conversations in Arabic and English. In addition to the main souq area, visitors can explore the Al Jimi and Al Qattara oasis trails, which extend into the UNESCO listed oasis landscape with light installations, heritage points and interpretive stops. These trails are particularly atmospheric in the evening when temperatures drop and lighting design highlights palm trees and irrigation channels. Comfortable walking shoes and a willingness to slow down and explore on foot will make the experience much more enjoyable for most visitors (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Food, shopping and budget planning for the evening
Food plays a central role in the festival atmosphere, with vendors offering traditional Emirati dishes, street snacks and sweets alongside coffee, karak tea and modern options. Prices at similar cultural events in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi typically range from approximately AED 10 to AED 25 for drinks and simple snacks, and from approximately AED 25 to AED 60 for more substantial plates or tasting boxes. Handicraft items vary widely in price depending on complexity, with small souvenirs sometimes available from around AED 20 and intricate woven or metal pieces reaching several hundred dirhams. Many visitors like to walk the souq once to compare quality and prices before committing to purchases. As a practical guide, plan a minimum of approximately AED 80 to AED 150 per adult for food, drinks and at least one modest craft item, with families adjusting their budget according to how much shopping they intend to do (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Getting to Souq Al Qattara from Al Ain and other Emirates
Souq Al Qattara sits in the Al Qattara area of Al Ain, a short drive from many residential neighbourhoods and around 10 to 20 minutes from central landmarks in normal traffic. Local taxis and ride hailing services provide straightforward access, with typical one way fares from central Al Ain often falling between approximately AED 15 and AED 30 depending on distance and time of day. Visitors driving from Abu Dhabi city can expect a journey of around 90 to 110 minutes in light traffic, while those coming from Dubai usually need around 90 minutes as well, especially if they leave after work. Because Thursday evenings are busy on intercity roads, leaving Abu Dhabi or Dubai in the early afternoon, where possible, reduces stress and increases the chance of arriving in time for sunset at the souq. Allow at least 20 to 30 extra minutes beyond normal navigation estimates on Thursday 20 November if you are driving in from another Emirate, particularly if you aim to arrive near the 16:00 opening for the general public (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Parking, accessibility and local traffic around the souq
The streets around Souq Al Qattara offer a mix of dedicated parking areas and on street spaces, but capacity can feel tight on busy evenings and during popular cultural activations. Residents often arrive early in the evening to secure spaces close to the souq, while visitors who come later may need to park a short walk away. For people travelling with children or older relatives, being dropped near the entrance and then parking slightly further away can work well. Because the surrounding residential streets also serve local traffic, drivers should expect slower movement near prayer times and closing hours, when many vehicles leave at once. Parking capacity is limited near the main souq entrance during peak evening hours, so arriving earlier or car sharing with friends is a smart way to reduce both walking distance and time spent in congestion (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Weather outlook during the closing week and weekend
Forecasts for Al Ain from Sunday 16 November to Saturday 22 November 2025 show warm, mainly sunny conditions typical of late autumn in the interior. Daytime highs climb from around 30 to 34 degrees Celsius between Sunday and Thursday, with Thursday 20 November, the festival’s final day, expected to reach approximately 34 degrees during the afternoon before easing in the evening. Night time lows range from about 16 to 18 degrees, which means evenings feel pleasantly warm rather than cold, especially when you continue walking through the souq and oasis trails. Friday 21 November and Saturday 22 November, although outside the festival dates, are also forecast to be warm and dry, which is useful information if you plan to stay in Al Ain for additional sightseeing or outdoor activities. Light, breathable clothing, sun protection for the late afternoon and a thin extra layer for cooler late night air will keep most visitors comfortable while they explore the closing hours of the festival and any weekend plans in the city (children/family-friendly, suitable for couples, solo).
Warnings, practical tips and closing advice
Given the popular nature of the event and the free entry, the closing night on Thursday 20 November 2025 is likely to attract strong crowds, particularly between 19:00 and 22:30 when families, couples and tour groups converge. It is wise to eat something small before arriving, so you are not immediately queuing for food, and then choose your preferred stalls after a first walk through the site. Public transport options inside Al Ain remain limited, so taxis, ride hailing cars and private vehicles will handle most arrivals and departures; planning your return before the 23:00 closing can help you avoid long waits for rides. All ticket, food and transport prices mentioned here are approximate and may change closer to the date, so it is always sensible to carry a little extra cash or card balance. Arrive early on the closing night, choose your travel times carefully and keep some flexibility in your schedule, so the festival feels like a relaxed celebration of heritage rather than a rushed outing. According to recent cultural round ups shared by editors at www.few.ae, visitors who respect local traffic patterns, check the latest forecasts and give themselves enough time inside Souq Al Qattara usually come away from the Traditional Handicrafts Festival with stronger memories of Al Ain’s crafts, music and community life than they ever expected.
then "Add to Home Screen"