Bahrain's treasured pottery heritage, rooted in the ancient town of A’ali and shaped by generations of skilled artisans, is being prepared for official nomination to the Unesco Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage – a move that potters and cultural advocates say is vital for the survival and global recognition of the millennia-old craft.
With a fast-approaching submission deadline of August 20, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) has intensified efforts to gather detailed documentation from A’ali’s seven remaining pottery workshops.
The entry is set to be presented at the fifth International Conference on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICICH 2025), scheduled for September 19 in Sri Lanka.
The nomination is part of a broader push by Baca to preserve and promote key elements of Bahrain’s cultural identity.
The authority is compiling entries around four intangible heritage pillars: Arabian horses, Nabatean Poetry, the Sambuk (a traditional wooden dhow), and Pottery.
Veteran potter Abdulnabi Al A’ali, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree and a Higher Diploma in Fine Arts, has been instrumental in preparing the materials for Bahrain’s pottery nomination.
He says the move is more than symbolic; it represents a chance for international validation, long-overdue support and renewed interest in the craft.
“We have taken pictures of the potting process, produced some samples and are helping out with the entry information,” Mr Al A’ali told the GDN in an exclusive interview .
He runs Delmon Pottery in A’ali that is open from 8am-7pm selling a wide range of locally made products.
“International recognition through Unesco means that we will be getting international support, and we need it to ensure this industry continues.”
For Mr Al A’ali, pottery is not just a livelihood, it is a legacy.
“Nowadays, with pottery making becoming a social media artistic trend, we see many young people coming here to learn and get trained.
“There is a rise in pottery lovers, but we want to see it become a profession that Bahrainis are genuinely interested in – just as it was passed to me from my father, grandfather, and so on.”
He sees untapped economic potential in the craft, particularly if properly promoted and institutionalised.
“Pottery can be a great source of revenue for Bahrain,” he explained.
“But what we need is consistency, continuous access to quality materials, constant support and long-term vision.”
One of the biggest challenges facing the industry in recent years has been access to high-quality local clay – a resource integral to the traditional craft.
For two years, potters in A’ali were forced to work with lower-grade, imported clay after a previous arrangement to source raw clay from the Southern Governorate was discontinued.
That changed recently, thanks to the intervention of Baca president Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, who secured a new deal allowing potters to extract two truckloads of clay every six months from designated sites in the south.
“The lack of local clay was suffocating our production,” said Mr Al A’ali.
“We had to resort to cheap, inferior clay that doesn’t reflect the quality we’re known for. But now, with this new agreement, we can finally return to the roots of authentic Bahraini pottery.”
Potters from A’ali are increasingly being sent to represent Bahrain at international exhibitions, including recent events in Uzbekistan. The government has also made efforts to promote pottery as an official gift item for VIPs and diplomatic events – a gesture that has helped boost visibility and morale among artisans.
“The state is buying pottery products as gifts for visitors and during honouring ceremonies, and it is helping,” Mr Al A’ali acknowledged.
“But more is necessary. The industry needs deeper institutional support – maybe even a dedicated centre or co-operative for potters.”
For potters like Mr Al A’ali, being added to this list would represent a historic moment, not just for A’ali, but for Bahrain’s cultural resilience.
“This craft is a symbol of who we are as a people,” he said.
“We’re not just shaping clay, we’re shaping identity, history and pride for future generations.”
The clay deal, however, did not come easy.
Southern Municipal Council chairman Abdulla Abdullatif explained that the process took time due to environmental considerations and regulatory challenges.
“This agreement was long overdue,” Mr Abdullatif told the GDN.
“We understood the urgency from the potters’ side, but we also had to ensure that the extraction of clay from lands in the Southern Governorate wouldn’t pose a threat to the environment or disrupt the surrounding ecosystems.”
He stressed that the Southern Municipal Council was committed to supporting the cultural and economic significance of the pottery industry.
“This is a unique Bahraini heritage that deserves our full backing. We are proud that the Southern Governorate’s resources can help revive a traditional industry and contribute to a future Unesco listing,” Mr Abdullatif said.
He added that the council would continue to work with Baca and the potters to secure additional supplies if the need arises, provided it remains within environmental parameters.
The community has also rallied behind the potters.
A’ali Social Charity Society’s board of trustees chairman Aqeel Al A’ali said the group is helping facilitate opportunities for potters to showcase their work at both local and international events.
“Whether it is local or international events, we call them to exhibit, an example being the recent visit by World Health Organisation (WHO) officials to A’ali,” he said.
“We also buy pottery gifts for VIPs and honourees regularly. Moreover, we’re encouraging students and interested youth to learn directly from the masters.”
The choice of A’ali as the heart of this nomination carries added significance.
The town is also home to the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Dilmun Burial Mounds – one of Bahrain’s most iconic archaeological landscapes. The site comprises nearly 12,000 burial mounds, including royal tombs dating back to the Dilmun civilisation, which once made Bahrain a nexus of trade linking Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and the Arabian Peninsula.
Between 2008 and 2022, 67 intangible heritage elements from the Arab world were added to Unesco’s list.
A’ali was declared as a “Healthy City” by WHO in 2023.
Bahrain currently has three entries: Arabic calligraphy, Fjiri music (linked to pearl diving), and the knowledge and traditions of the date palm. Henna practices are expected to be inscribed this year, with entries such as the bisht (traditional men’s cloak), the oud instrument and Al Saafiyat (palm frond weaving) also in the pipeline.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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