Today's Edition
RAJEEV CHERIAN (AL AIN)
A rich repository of historical knowledge, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre, housed at Al Ain zoo, offers immersive and interactive experiences enhanced by audio-visual effects, taking visitors on a journey to the UAE’s past, its evolution and its commitment to sustainability.
Bearing the name of the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the centre sheds light on his life, his visionary leadership and his commitment to conservation and protecting the natural world as a national priority.
A series of engaging and thoughtfully curated exhibitions take visitors across time, tracing the nation’s past, present and future. The centre narrates the story of Abu Dhabi in a time sequence that starts from 500 million years to the present day, highlighting the varied land formations, according to the Al Ain zoo website.
From ocean floor to mountain peak, the exhibits offer insights into the hidden caves of Jebel Hafit, the role of water in forming them and how they provide refuge to threatened bird species.
The rock formations of the Hajar Mountains and what lies beneath it is also explained. The transformation of limestone into marble under intense heat over millions of years and what fossils say about life in the distant past are also depicted.
Another session highlights the invisible desert, where animals lie hidden, and how they adapt to the heat. The story of the palm tree is narrated as well – how it is suited to the desert climate and its deep-rooted connections to past generations.
Moving on, the showcase also vividly depicts Abu Dhabi’s ever-changing landscape:
“Our land has been sculpted by wind and water for hundreds of thousands of years – and continues to change today,” reads an inscription.
The exhibit on the falaj irrigation system explains how it carried water from the Hajar Mountains to the date farms in Al Ain via a complex network of underground and surface channels.
A special session covers the story of pearl diving and the making of a dhow. The beauty and global demand of Arabian pearls are also showcased.
The centre narrates the story of Al Ain’s effort for oryx conservation where Al Ain Wildlife Park and Resort lead the efforts.
Additionally, its tells the story of Bedouin heritage and their famed hospitality. It explores their lifestyle, their weaving techniques using goat and camel hair, and the healing properties of plants they used to survive in the harsh climate.
Reflecting its commitment to sustainability, the Sheikh Zayed Desert Learning Centre building achieved the five pearl rating of the Estidama Pearl Rating System in the design phase and was awarded a LEED Platinum certification.
“The present is only an extension of the past. He who does not know his past cannot make the best of his present and the future, for it is from the past that we learn,” reads a quote by the late Sheikh Zayed at the centre.
