The Family in the Bedouin Society of Abu Dhabi examines family life and its role in raising future generations
A new documentary book traces the social fabric and child‑rearing practices of Abu Dhabi’s Bedouin communities, using oral testimony to connect past traditions with present needs.
Documenting family life in the Abu Dhabi desert
Released on 21st September 2026, The Family in the Bedouin Society of Abu Dhabi is presented as both a documentary record and a cultural study of family and social life in the Emirate’s desert communities. The publication places the household at the centre of social reproduction, describing how families raised children and transmitted values under conditions of material simplicity.
The book examines traditional methods of upbringing in Bedouin families, emphasising cooperation, mutual support, responsibility, respect for elders and hospitality. It highlights how parents and wider kin cultivated patience, courage, generosity and a rooted sense of belonging to land and nation. The narrative deliberately notes the complementary roles of men and women in family formation and in preparing younger generations to meet life’s challenges.
Oral testimony and named figures
Much of the book is based on oral documentation and first‑hand testimony. Foremost among contributors is Sheikha Subha bint Mohammed Al Khaili, whose account of life in the Abu Dhabi desert both before and after the formation of the Union is cited as providing historical and human value. The book also profiles Emirati figures who, it says, embodied Bedouin values: Hamouda bin Ali bin Hamouda Al Dhaheri, Hamad bin Suhail Al Khubaili, Moza bint Mohammed Balmarshoud and Adhija bint Saif bin Zaal Al Mashghouni. Their lives and social roles are reviewed as illustrations of a generation that contributed to individual development and social cohesion.
Rather than treating these practices as relics, the publication makes an explicit link between heritage and contemporary family life in the UAE. The author argues that the social and educational legacy of Bedouin society can inform measures to strengthen intergenerational communication, preserve national identity and support families facing modern pressures.
Presented as a contribution to the Emirati library, the book aims to preserve national memory by documenting everyday life and family relations in Abu Dhabi. Its blend of testimony and contextual analysis is intended to convey these experiences faithfully to future generations, while offering a resource for those studying social history and cultural continuity in the Emirate.
To mark the book’s publication, WAM published an interview with the author exploring the motivations behind the work, the principal themes and personalities it addresses, and the overarching message it seeks to transmit.
Source: WAM – https://www.wam.ae/en/article/c2cx575-the-family-the-bedouin-society-abu-dhabi-book