How Emiratis are battling to preserve the dying art of embroidery

An Emirati woman weaves thread in the Al Talli method, a traditional local weaving technique, during an annual heritage festival in Al-Ain. Photo: AFP

Far from Dubai's glitzy towers, Mariam Al-Kalbani's henna-dyed fingers weave brightly coloured threads in a skill she hopes young Emirati women watching her can preserve for the future.

The art of hand-weaving braided shiny ribbons to adorn traditional clothing and bags is called Al Talli, and is on Unesco's "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" list.