The Palestinian Hikaye is a narrative expression practiced by women in Palestine, especially the elderly. The tales, that have developed over the centuries, deal with the current concerns of Middle Eastern Arab society and family issues.
It also provides a critique of society from the perspective of women and draws a portrait of the social structure that is directly related to the life of women. The tale is usually narrated at home during winter evenings, and at spontaneous and joyful occasions attended by small groups of women and children.
The expressive power of narration lies in the use of language and emphasis on particular words, as well as in the rhythms and vocal inflections as well as in the ability to capture the attention of listeners and successfully transport them into the realm of imagination. The tales are told in the Palestinian dialect, and the narration follows linguistic and literary norms that distinguish it from other popular narrative genres.
The Palestinian Hikaye is widespread in the countryside and the city, and it is mainly carried out by elderly women, and almost every Palestinian woman over the age of 70 can be considered a Hikaye teller. The Palestinian Hikaye has declined due to the influence of the media, which prompted older women to change the form and content of the narrations to ensure their continuity.

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Palestinian Hikaye was inscribed in 2008 on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in Palestine.