One of the many things we love here in the capital is the wide variety of food options served by big restaurants in malls and hotels to small neighborhood eateries.
Now a new initiative by the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi aims to recognize the city’s longest-running local eateries and shops as places of cultural significance.
The project named, Urban Treasures, will cover restaurants and cafeterias that have been around before the year 2000.
Up to 20 establishments will be recognized every year by DCT Abu Dhabi through public nomination.
The nomination for this year’s inaugural will conclude on 24th February through the Abu Dhabi Events website, social media channels using the hashtag #urbantreasures and a booth at Weekends at Al Hosn.
DCT Abu Dhabi will review and evaluate all nominations against criteria.
What’s in it for the winning entries, you might ask. Well, the selected eateries will gain special status mark as a cultural spot and will be promoted on the Visit Abu Dhabi and Visit Al Ain websites.
This of course means a boost in public interest, with more people — both residents and tourists — visiting these restaurants to see the places and trying out the food themselves.
“As part of our commitment to preserve the rich cultural heritage of the emirate, we focus on places and projects that have contributed to the cultural and urban identity of Abu Dhabi, and played a significant role in capturing the essence of the different communities residing here,” commented Mohammed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi.
“This initiative has been launched to help the most long-established eateries and shops in Abu Dhabi thrive, whilst at the same time recognizing their significance as cultural touch-points that resonate with the public as intrinsic parts of how they remember the emirate.”
How about you, what old Abu Dhabi restaurant do you think should make the cut?
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