RAKFAF is back again with yet another enriching, immersive cultural heritage and art festival for local and international visitors alike. Held annually under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah and the UAE Supreme Council Member, this fusion of ancient and modern art festival is one of the largest outdoor exhibitions in the Emirates not to be missed!
Hosted at the Al Jazeera Al Hamra Heritage Village, the exciting 11th edition of RAKFAF will commence from February 3rd until February 28th, 2023. RAKFAF is a community festival designed to display the talent of local and emerging artists, photographers, and filmmakers, as artists around the world join hands to celebrate art, create opportunities for cultural exchange, and support the creative and artistic sectors of the emirate.
For this year, the Festival has its theme inspired by the Arabian Almond, which has its white-pink bloom dominating the peak of Jebel Jais from January to April. Native to Turkey, Iran, and the Arabian Peninsula, the wood of the shrub was traditionally used to make small tribal axes and its small bitter almond edible once cooked. The Arabian Almond reflects both the heritage of Ras Al Khaimah and the region’s interaction and dependence on the natural environment, two of the many sub-themes explored in this year’s art submissions. In collaboration with the Festival’s valued cultural partners, it will feature six special exhibitions that will identify and understand ‘nature’ at its core.