In a small 6-by-6-foot shop at Global Village, the creativity and heritage of over 350 families from the eastern towns of the UAE come alive. These families, supported by Ghars Centre for Social Empowerment, produce a wide array of handmade goods, including incense burners, embroidered jalabiyas, organic ghee, finely blended spices, and traditional perfumes. Each item reflects generations of craftsmanship and cultural tradition.
At the heart of this initiative is Ghars Centre, a social welfare organization that not only helps these families market their products but also trains them to refine their skills. Established under the vision of Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Ruler of Fujairah, the centre has been instrumental in turning inherited skills into sustainable businesses. Saeed bin Mohammed Al Ragbani closely supports this vision, ensuring its successful implementation.
The centre’s objective is to empower productive families and develop their projects in line with UAE’s heritage and culture. They support families from Dibba Al Fujairah, Masafi, and other eastern towns, helping them generate a stable income through traditional crafts. Hend Alhamoudi, a representative from Ghars Centre, emphasizes the importance of preserving UAE’s cultural heritage through these handmade crafts.
The families working with Ghars produce over 200 different types of products, all crafted using traditional techniques passed down through generations. Flavored Emirati coffee (Gahwa) is one of the most sought-after items, made by sourcing coffee beans, roasting them differently, grinding them into powder, and mixing them with traditional ingredients. Handcrafted herbal tea and homemade pickles, including lemon, beetroot, brinjal, and mango, are also popular. These pickles are made using age-old family recipes and have been in production for generations.
Incense burners created by these families are another highlight. Made from clay, these burners are decorated with intricate paintings and embroidery. Customers can even request custom designs, including their names or poetic inscriptions. Perfume-making is another heritage craft supported by Ghars, with families extracting and blending fragrances using centuries-old techniques to create natural, handcrafted Arabic perfumes.
Handwoven prayer mats are another specialty, made from materials like jute, tree bark, cotton, and velvet. Some are packaged into special Ramadan gift sets, which include prayer beads, garments, and perfume. Families also weave date palm leaves into gift boxes, mobile covers, tissue boxes, and hand fans, often purchased as souvenirs.
Ghars Centre is not only helping families produce handmade goods but also ensuring their products reach a wider audience. The organization provides training on packaging, quality control, and marketing, helping artisans improve their craft and sell their products effectively. Currently, Ghars has a dedicated retail space at the 971 Pavilion in Global Village and has partnered with DoubleTree by Hilton Fujairah to showcase artisanal goods in a premium setting.
With the rising demand for handmade, authentic Emirati products, Ghars Centre is now looking to expand its reach beyond the UAE. Plans include opening doors to other markets in the GCC and launching an e-commerce platform for online sales. This move will provide more opportunities for home-based artisans and allow UAE-made traditional products to reach global customers, keeping UAE’s rich traditions alive.
