The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has made significant progress in developing its heritage and handicraft industries over the past decade. However, the changes since its establishment in 1971 have reshaped its heritage landscape. Two key handicrafts, the madkhan and jerz, are highly valued for their authenticity in Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and the Musandam Peninsula in northern Oman. Their resurgence in contemporary culture by heritage associations and locals in the northern emirates reflects the UAE’s commitment to preserving both tangible and intangible heritage. Although seemingly unrelated, these crafts are intertwined in the minds of their makers, forming part of a shared manufacturing tradition in the region. This policy paper provides an overview of the madkhan and jerz’s origin, production, and display as traditional artifacts of Ras Al Khaimah. It also proposes measures for national and local museums and community representatives to protect and nurture these crafts from endangerment.
Recommended citation: Zimmerle, W. (2025). From Tangible to Intangible Heritage: The Craft Culture of Ras Al Khaimah (Policy Paper No. 85). Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research.