المجلس
74 شواطئ
61
60
Shawati’ 74
Al Majlis - Forums of Exchange
tablish the UAE’s first “Made in the UAE” saddle, reviving a prac- tice that has almost disappeared from the region. The same approach extends to its curated retail spaces, where vis- itors encounter the cutting-edge work of Emirati designers and equestrian products inspired by time-honoured artisanry. NURTURING THE NEXT GENERATION While ADREA celebrates history, it is equally focused on the fu- ture. Its educational programmes represent one of its most am- bitious undertakings, offering pathways that range from intro- ductory riding lessons to accredited professional qualifications in equestrian disciplines. Unlike many riding schools, however, the curriculum extends well beyond technical instruction. Students are introduced to the ethos grounding classical horsemanship: patience over force, communication over domination, and partnership over control. These principles are introduced early through the Junior Acade- my, where children aged four to sixteen learn both riding skills and horse care in purpose-built arenas, classrooms and pony stables. Programmes welcome riders of all abilities, including Children of Determination, reflecting ADREA’s commitment to making equestrian education accessible to the wider community. Its location clearly reflects that ambition. Set among the tranquil horse-human interaction. Increasingly, research has demonstrated the emotional and developmental benefits that horses can offer through structured engagement, from building confidence to improving communication and emotional regu- lation. By incorporating these ideas into its educational princi- ples, ADREA is broadening the role horses can play in contem- porary society. A NEW CULTURAL LANDMARK ADREA arrives at a moment when Abu Dhabi is rapidly expanding its global cultural identity. Over the past two decades, the emirate has invested heavily in institutions that celebrate art, history, science, and heritage, positioning culture as a cornerstone of its long-term development. Within that broader landscape, the academy occupies a distinctive niche. Rather than importing an established European model whole- sale, it presents an authentically Emirati interpretation of classi- cal horsemanship, one rooted in the Arab philosophy of Furusiyya while remaining open to international collaboration. Its location clearly reflects that ambition. Set among the tranquil mangrove forests of Jubail Island - tucked between Saadiyat and Yas Island - the campus offers a striking contrast to Abu Dhabi’s urban skyline. Nature becomes part of the visitor experience, cre- ating an atmosphere of calm that mirrors the institution’s em- phasis on harmony between horse, rider and environment. Visitors can spend an afternoon watching a performance before exploring the gallery, browsing the library, observing artisans at work, dining in one of the venue’s restaurants or simply walking through a campus designed to encourage reflection as much as entertainment. The result is a cultural destination where equine heritage intersects with scholarship, architecture, craftsman- ship and conservation. MORE THAN A RIDING SCHOOL The significance of ADREA ultimately extends beyond horses. Its greatest achievement may be its willingness to reshape the accepted history by illuminating the roots from which classical horsemanship first emerged. For a long time, Europe’s academies preserved and refined clas- sical riding into one of the world’s most sophisticated equestrian arts. ADREA acknowledges that legacy while reminding audienc- es that the values anchoring the discipline were cultivated much
[T-L-R] HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court listens to a presentation by HE Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui, UAE Minister of Community Empowerment and Vice Chair of ADREA during an inauguration tour of Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts [ADREA], at Jubail Island. Seen with HE Humaid Saeed Amer Al Neyadi, Director of the Office of the Chairman of the Presidential Court, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. © Abdulla Al Bedwawi / UAE Presidential Court. HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan stands for a photograph during an inauguration tour of Abu Dhabi Royal Equestrian Arts at Jubail Island. Seen with HE Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrui, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan. © Hamad Al Kaabi / UAE Presidential Court [B-L-R] Spaces within ADREA, the courtyard and Academy classroom. Images courtesy of ADREA
ونفائس أثرية، تستعرض جميعها التحولات التي شهدها حضور الجواد في حياة الحضارات؛ محاربًا في ســــــاحات القتال، ورمزًا للمكانة والهيبة، ورفيقًا في الترحال والاكتشاف، ومصدرًا لا ينضب للإلهام الفني. إحياء الحِرَف التي صنعت مجد الفروسية ومن بين الكنوز التي تحرص الأكاديمية على صونها، يبرز “دار الحِرَف”، حيث لا تزال إحدى أعرق حِرَف الفروسية تُمارَس بأنامل خبراء أتقنوا صناعة السروج جيلا بعد جيل. فعلــــــى امتداد قرون، جمع صُنّاع الســــــروج بيــــــن المعرفة الدقيقة وبراعــــــة الصنعة، ليبتكروا تجهيزات توفّق بين الراحة، والكفاءة، والجمال. غير أن هذه الحرفة، شــــــأنها شــــــأن كثير من الصناعات التقليدية، أخذت تنحســــــر شيئًا فشيئًا مع اتساع الإنتاج الصناعي وتراجع الأعمال اليدوية. واليــــــوم، تســــــعى الأكاديمية إلى رد الاعتبار لهــــــذا الموروث. فـ“دار الحِــــــرَف” لا يقتصر على صناعة الســــــروج والمعدات الخاصة بخيول الأكاديميــــــة، بل ينهض أيضًا بتأهيل جيل جديد
تجد لها موطئًا في هذا الصرح، حتى يغدو أكثر من مجرد مدرسة لتعليم الركوب، بل متحفًا حيًّا يروي سيرة الفروسية بكل جوانبها. ومن أبرز معالم هذا المشــــــروع “مكتبة الفروســــــية”، التي تُعــــــد من أكبر المكتبات المتخصصــــــة في المنطقة، إذ تضم أكثر من أربعة عشــــــر ألــــــف مجلدٍ، تتناول طب الخيل، وتربية السلالات، والتاريخ العسكري، وأساليب الفروسية الكلاسيكية، إلى جانب كتب الأطفال. كما تحتضن مخطوطات نادرة، ووثائق أرشيفية، ومجموعة متخصصة في التراث الإماراتي، تتجاور مع أحدث المراجع والدراسات، في مسعًى إلى صون حصيلة قرون من المعرفة، وإتاحة المجال أمام أجيال جديدة لمواصلة البحث في واحدة من أقدم الشراكات التي عرفها الإنسان. وعلى مقربة منها، يفتح “معرض الفروســــــية” أبوابه أمام الزائرين في رحلة تمتد 173 عبر ألفي عام من تاريخ الفروسية في العالم العربي وخارجه. ويضم المعرض قطعة منتقاة، تشمل أسلحة تاريخية، وسروجًا، وأدوات احتفاليةً، ولوحات فنية،
earlier within Furusiyya . Now that this sacred bond has fi- nally returned to where it first flourished, it stands ready to inspire a new dawn of riders and artisans. Bringing this rich heritage to life takes a vision that reaches well beyond the riding arena. Leading the charge is Reem Al Mubarak, Head of Culture at ADREA, who steers the in- stitution’s cultural strategy, international partnerships, public programming, and interdisciplinary initiatives. Al Mubarak brings a uniquely creative lens to the role. As an Emirati artist, author, and curator represented by the Rizq Art Initiative, her work exploring memory and human connection has been exhibited globally, with showcases at Abu Dhabi Art, Expo 2020 Dubai, the Kochi- Muziris Biennale, and Venice.
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator