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Al Khous palm-frond fans on Sadu textile, Emirati heritage craft, Bint Saeed Abu Dhabi. Bint Saeed Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Traditional Craft

Khous Weaving

The Art of Palm Frond Weaving

Tree of Life

Gift of the Palm

In Emirati culture, the palm tree is not just a tree - it's the tree of life. For centuries, Emiratis relied on the palm for everything: from dates for food, to trunks for building, and palm fronds for handicrafts.

Khous, also known as "Al Safeefah", is the art of weaving dried and treated palm fronds to create baskets, mats, fans, and other everyday items that were essential for desert life.

Al Khous palm-frond weaving in progress, Emirati craft, Bint Saeed Abu Dhabi. Bint Saeed Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The Process

From Frond to Art

01

Harvesting

Fresh palm fronds are carefully selected and cut from the tree, choosing the young, flexible leaves ideal for weaving.

02

Preparation

The fronds are dried in the sun, then soaked in water to make them pliable. Some are dyed with natural colors from saffron or pomegranate.

03

Weaving

Using ancient patterns passed through generations, artisans interlace the fronds to create functional and beautiful items.

Products

What Khous Creates

Baskets

Storage & decoration

Mats

Floor coverings

Fans

Cooling in the heat

Food Covers

Protecting food

Al Khous woven palm fans with Sadu stripes, Emirati heritage, Bint Saeed Abu Dhabi. Bint Saeed Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Bint Saeed × Khous

Palm Patterns in Our Designs

We draw inspiration from the geometric patterns of Khous in our embroidery and design details. The interlaced weaving that characterizes Khous appears in our abaya linings and accessories.

We also collaborate with local artisans to produce handcrafted accessories made from palm fronds, complementing our collections and carrying the spirit of Emirati heritage.

To explore living Emirati crafts in Abu Dhabi, visit the House of Artisans at Qasr Al Hosn through the emirate’s official channels.

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Explore more about UAE Heritage

Learn about other traditional Emirati crafts