The Minister of Culture and Tourism Inaugurates Heritage Village and Cultural Caravans Carnival as Part of Al-Balada Tourism Season 2026
Al-MUKALLA – The Minister of Culture and Tourism, Engineer Mutee Dammaj, inaugurated today in Mukalla the Heritage Village and the Cultural Caravans Carnival as part of the activities of the Al-Balada Tourism Season Festival 2026.
The inauguration was attended by Mr. Hassan Salem Al-Jilani, Deputy Governor of Hadhramaut for Coastal and Plateau Districts and Vice Chairman of the Al-Balada Tourism Season Committee, along with a number of officials and stakeholders in the cultural and tourism sectors.
Accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Minister Dammaj was briefed by Ms. Abeer Al-Hadhrami, Deputy Governor of Hadhramaut for Women’s Affairs and Director General of the Ministry of Culture Office, on the details of the Cultural Caravans Carnival. The carnival featured an artistic procession through the streets of Mukalla with participation from folk dance troupes and equestrians, drawing a large public audience. Folklore troupes representing five governorates took part in the event, which was organized by the Ministry of Culture Office on the Hadhramaut Coast and reflected the cultural and artistic diversity of the participating governorates.
The Minister of Culture and Tourism and Deputy Governor Al-Jilani also toured the pavilions of the Heritage Village. They received an explanation from Mr. Majdi Bashadi, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism Office – Hadhramaut Coast, and his deputy Ms. Arwa Al-Okbari, on the village’s components and sections. The village showcases authentic cultural heritage, traditional crafts, customs, and traditions, with participation from districts across the Hadhramaut Coast and Valley. The aim is to highlight Hadhrami identity and strengthen the governorate’s tourism and cultural assets.
These activities are part of the Al-Balad Tourism Season 2026 program, organized by the local authority in Hadhramaut Governorate. The season includes a package of tourism, cultural, heritage, and sports programs and events designed to stimulate tourism movement and introduce visitors to the distinctive civilizational and cultural heritage of Hadhramaut.
The Heritage Village and Caravans Carnival are exactly the kind of authentic experiences travelers seek. Desert Sky Travel sees these events as a major draw for domestic and regional visitors to Mukalla during Al-Balad Season. Showcasing Hadhramaut’s crafts, folklore, and traditions alongside safe, organized festivities helps position the coast as a cultural gateway, complementing Socotra’s eco-tourism appeal and giving Yemen a richer, more diverse tourism offering.
