Tourism projects in Abu Dhabi that support the Emirati manner of preparing coffee are set to be eligible for new licences from the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi).

The authority recently announced the initiative, called Bait Al Gahwa (House of Coffee), as part of its commitment to preserve and promote local practices and the country’s heritage.

The project aims to promote the art of Arabic coffee-making, a process that was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.

The initiative will see Emirati youth partake in ten-day training sessions under the guidance of heritage experts. In addition to learning the steps of making coffee using traditional tools, the programme will also provide insight into the methods of serving coffee and the management of the majlis.

Upon completion of the training, a permit will be issued to participants.

Saif Saeed Ghobash, undersecretary of DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “A Bait Al Gahwa licence is the first stage of starting a potentially lucrative tourism project, combining heritage practices like hospitality with Emirati etiquette.”