National Academy for Childhood Development to participate in ADIHEX 2026

The National Academy for Childhood Development (NACD) will participate for the second consecutive year in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting & Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX). Taking place from 28 August to 6 September 2026 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, the exhibition is held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Falconers’ Club.

This year, the academy’s participation reflects its unwavering commitment to its mission of fostering authentic Emirati values and reinforcing national identity among younger generations. It transforms cultural heritage from spoken tradition into an immersive educational experience–uniting children, youth, and families while bridging knowledge with practice and interactive engagement.

The academy will welcome visitors to a larger stand designed to take them on an integrated educational and interactive journey through a series of areas inspired by Emirati culture and the UAE’s natural environments. These include the desert corner Al Arqoub, the marine corner Al Dana, the oasis and agriculture corner Al Meydan, the traditional crafts and industries corner Al Dikka, as well as the interactive area How Well Do You Know Each Other?. The experience combines sensory, movement-based and creative activities with interactive storytelling and family discussions, enabling visitors to engage with Emirati heritage in ways that reflect their interests and needs.

Children will be introduced to different aspects of Emirati heritage and the UAE’s natural environments through a wide range of interactive experiences. At Al Arqoub, they will explore elements of desert heritage, including falconry, horsemanship and Emirati customs, through movement-based and storytelling activities that promote patience, focus, respect, kindness towards animals, good manners and hospitality. At Al Dana, children will take part in sensory and creative experiences inspired by the UAE’s maritime, diving and pearl-trading heritage, while developing values such as courage, patience and teamwork and building awareness of marine conservation. At Al Meydan, children will take part in a series of interactive stations inspired by Emirati heritage, where they will learn about the horse, falcon, date palm, dallah (traditional coffee pot) and tent, and explore the values they represent, including courage, patience, generosity, hospitality and adaptability, while Al Dikka will highlight traditional crafts and industries as an integral part of the UAE’s living heritage. Their journey will be connected through the Child’s Heritage Passport, which allows them to collect stamps from the different stations and receive symbolic titles upon completing the experience, reinforcing their sense of achievement and pride in their national identity.

The stand will also feature interactive experiences for young people, presenting heritage in a way that connects with their interests and everyday lives. The activities will encourage them to explore the relationship between national identity and contemporary life, reflect on situations they encounter, and express Emirati culture and heritage in innovative and responsible ways. They will also promote greater awareness of the role young people play in representing their culture and identity positively, both within their communities and across digital platforms.

The interactive area How Well Do You Know Each Other? will aim to strengthen communication and family bonds through a series of questions exchanged between parents and children. The experience will encourage family members to learn more about one another’s interests, preferences and aspirations, while fostering meaningful dialogue, active listening and closer family connections.

To support families and parents, the Olfa programmme will present four interactive sessions: Positive Parenting Skills, Healthy Parent–Child Interaction, Nurturing Emirati Values in Children, and The Importance of Arabic in Early Childhood. The sessions will explore the family’s role in passing values and heritage on to children, selecting positive parenting responses, understanding the needs of adolescents, and incorporating heritage practices naturally into everyday family life.

Her Excellency Dr Meera Alkaabi, Acting President of the National Academy for Childhood Development, said: “Our participation in the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition for the second consecutive year reflects the academy’s commitment to transforming heritage from knowledge that is passed down into a living experience shared by children, young people and families. This year, we have developed a larger stand and a more integrated experience, allowing visitors to move through spaces inspired by the UAE’s diverse environments and engage with our national heritage through sensory and movement-based activities, as well as family discussions.

Through this experience, we aim to strengthen national identity, instil the values of patience, respect, teamwork and responsibility, and support families in passing Emirati heritage on to children in ways that connect with their daily lives and interests. We believe the continuity of heritage begins within the family, when children live its values through their everyday practices and learn to express it with confidence and awareness, ensuring that it remains alive and renewed across generations.

The academy invites families, children and young people to visit its stand at Hall 5 – stand 020-5 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi and participate in the diverse activities and interactive sessions. For more information, please visit: https://nacd.ac.ae.