Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Fatima Al Mazrouei, an award-winning Emirati author, sees literature as a way to both retain cultural memory and address contemporary readers, an ambition that is realised in her book "Kohl Ithmid", which was recently awarded the Jury Award at the Sharjah Award for Gulf Women's Creativity.
In an interview with Aletihad, she said the collection of stories reimagines Emirati folklore and oral storytelling through a contemporary lens, keeping heritage alive by connecting past experiences with present generations.
"The main message I wanted to convey through 'Kohl Ithmid' is that people do not live separately from their memories, and that the stories we inherit are not merely tales for entertainment, but a reservoir of values and human experiences that shape our collective consciousness," she said.
The collection depicts ordinary women characters and their real-life experiences, which Al Mazrouei said "readers can learn from them the values of patience, loyalty, courage, respect for their roots and the ability to embrace change without losing their identity".
Al Mazrouei believes modernity and cultural identity can coexist. "I wanted to emphasise that people can be modern and open to the world while remaining deeply connected to their cultural and human values, because authenticity and openness are not opposites. They can complement one another."
The book was titled "Kohl Ithmid" - a traditional eye cosmetic worn by Emirati women and a symbol of Emirati heritage - because around 90% of its characters are women.
Al Mazrouei said that the collection draws on the lives of Emirati mothers and grandmothers, celebrating their role in preserving family values, neighbourhood ties, traditional crafts such as talli, and oral storytelling across generations.
For Al Mazrouei, oral storytelling is key to preserving cultural memory and identity. "Popular memory is the soul of any society, and if a society loses its memory, it loses a significant part of its identity."
She said oral stories preserve everyday life, traditions and values across generations. "The oral story passes from one generation to another. With every generation it gains a new life, while preserving its core values."
Documenting oral stories, she noted, helps preserve them for future generations while introducing Emirati heritage to readers beyond the UAE.
Al Mazrouei said the collection addresses universal human experiences shared across cultures. "The stories explore memory, identity, social change, the role of women in safeguarding heritage, family relationships, justice, fear of the unknown and the search for truth."
The collection presents heritage as something dynamic rather than static. "Heritage is not a static image, but a living entity that interacts with people and evolves alongside them," she added.
The anthology chronicles key chapters of the UAE's history, revisiting the discovery of oil, the decline of the natural pearl industry, the Spanish flu, quarantine stations and seasonal migration.
It also recalls life in the old Abu Dhabi neighbourhoods, the arrival of cinemas, desert travel by camel and crossing Al Maqta Bridge.
On heritage and identity, Al Mazrouei said identity should evolve without losing its roots.
"I believe identity is not something fixed, nor something that can easily be abandoned. It is like a river that keeps flowing while remaining connected to its source."
She said "Kohl Ithmid" bridges heritage and modernity while encouraging societies to embrace change without losing their identity.
Al Mazrouei said blending realism with folklore reflects Gulf storytelling traditions while revealing deeper human truths. "Imagination gives writers the freedom to express emotions and ideas that realism alone cannot always capture."
The collection reimagines Emirati folklore, including "Um Al Duwais", while also drawing inspiration from "One Thousand and One Nights", through a contemporary literary style.
Al Mazrouei believes this fresh interpretation of heritage helped to distinguish "Kohl Ithmid".
She added that although the stories are deeply rooted in Emirati culture, they ultimately speak to universal human experiences. "The issues explored in the collection are not only local, but deeply human, allowing readers from different cultures to connect with them."
She believes the collection's blend of authenticity and innovation is what earned it the Jury Award.
Al Mazrouei revealed "Kohl Ithmid" has been translated into English and will be launched at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair in September 2026. She described translation as a bridge that introduces Emirati literature and culture to international readers.
"The success of any Arab literary work in reaching new readers is not only a success for its author, but for Arab culture as a whole. It proves that stories rooted in local traditions can carry universal messages," she concluded.
