UAE Heritage

HERITAGE OF UAE

Prepared by

Amanda Maria Joe
Grader 6 A

ASPAM INDIAN INERNATIONAL SCHOOOL
SHARJAH

The Emirati Majlis (meaning council or assembly) is a
part of the social life and manifestations of solidarity
and interaction, hospitality customs and habits, and
generosity among the people of the UAE.
It is a tradition for elderly people and sage chieftains
to run a guesthouse, which is considered a forum for
the people of the tribe and all those who gather
there to discuss the daily affairs and matters of their
lives, and relay news and stories.
These gatherings or guesthouses are called barza
according to these specifications. The chieftain is said
to be barez if he is sitting in his barza, and each
member of the tribe and community is entitled to
attend this social forum, to give his point of view on certain matters. The owner of that
guesthouse, or Majlis, is responsible for paying all of the expenses of the guesthouse with his
own money, although in some cases the tribe members cooperate together to cover these
expenses. It is worth mentioning that these reception areas, guesthouses, or councils are
common in many Gulf countries, where they are known by different names. In Kuwait they are
called Al-Diwaniyah and in Saudi Arabia Majlis, while the Bedouin gathering or council is called
Bayt Al-She`r (house of hair). In the UAE, on the other hand, it is called barza, or Al-marms, or
Al-mayles (instead of Majlis).

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Falconry

Falcons and falconry were entwined with Emirati
culture for thousands of years. Because they have
been an integral part of Bedouin lives for many
millennia, there is no evidence of when the Arabs
actually started domesticating these birds in the
desert.

In the olden days, Bedouin Arabs used them mainly
for hunting. In the arid deserts where food is scarce
and walking on foot is difficult, falcons have been
greatly helpful. Their sharp eyesight and swift flight
aided the desert dwellers to capture Bustards and Curlews for food. Especially on special
occasions when the Bedouins have to host eminent guests.

As times changed, hunting is no longer a part of daily life. But falcons still hold their place in
Emirati culture. Today, falcons are used for sports more than anything else. They are also
admired for their beauty and speed. Falcons are a symbol of pride and honor among Arabs.

Falconry is art for Emiratis. They take good care of the falcons while training them to form an
everlasting bond. History has it that the Arabs spread falconry to ancient Rome and Persia
during their trading expeditions.

In 2016, UNESCO added falconry to their list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Saluki racing

The Saluki, also known as the Arabian Greyhound, is
one of the world's oldest dog breeds. They have long
been held in high esteem: they were considered the
royal dog of Egypt, and have been found mummified
alongside Pharaohs.

Traditionally, they were used for hunting gazelles,
hares, foxes and jackals, and today that tradition is
mimicked in dog racing. They have been recorded to
run as fast as 68 km/h, making them one of the world's fastest dogs on longer distances. With
their status still intact today, they are one of the only dog breeds kept as pets in the UAE,
where dogs are generally considered unclean, or even a pest.

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Weaving

Al Sadu is a traditional form of weaving practised by
Bedouin women in rural communities of the United Arab
Emirates to produce soft furnishings and decorative
accessories for camels and horses.The yarn is spun on a
drop spindle, then dyed, then woven on a floor loom using a
warp-faced plain weave.

Pottery

People have been practicing pottery in the United Arab
Emirates since the third millennium BCE (3000 BCE-2000
BCE), with recovered fragments demonstrating a high level
of craftsmanship and a diversity of forms. Some of those
forms continue to be used today.

Using clay, these early potters produced a range of
containers, including those used for preserving and
transporting food, or presenting sacrifices to ancient gods.
Other pottery works included incense containers, vases and braziers.

Among the pottery forms still in use are the Hib, an earthen pot that is highly effective for
cooling drinking water in hot, dry desert conditions; the Bumrah, a container for storing and
preserving fresh milk; and the Chirr, a vessel for storing dates and dried fish.

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Traditionally, perfume-making is done by women only,
who mix different ingredients to create strong oils that
give a lasting aroma. Extracts from plants and flowers
such as jasmine, narcissus and lilies are also commonly
used in perfume-making. An important aspect of daily
life in the UAE is perfuming clothes and the home with
incense or bukhoor. The use of bukhoor is an Islamic
tradition linked to the Prophet Mohammed's (Peace Be
Upon Him) Hijra from Makkah to Al Madinah, when he
was greeted with bukhoor and chants. The Prophet
encouraged both men and women to keep themselves and their homes smelling pleasant,
encouraging the use of perfume before Friday prayers. Using aromatic oils and perfumes is part
of UAE national life. Even today, the same original ingredients go into the making of these
perfumes.

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The Traditional Clothes For Men

The traditional dress of Emirati men is a Dishdasha or a Kandura. This is a
single piece ankle-length garment. In their homes, they sometimes wear half
sleeved Kanduras, but formal Kanduras are always full-sleeved. Emirati men
wear Gutra as the headdress. It is an integral part of their traditional Emirati
clothing. Gutra, which is a square piece of scarf, protects their head and face
from the scorching heat of the desert. They would also cover their faces with
it when the dust is too high. Agal is used to hold the Gutra on the head. An
Agal is the black rope-like band placed over the head to hold the Gutra in
place. It is one large circular band that is folded to form two rings when it is
worn. Agals are not worn in casual settings. But for formal occasions, Agal
cannot be missed out.

The Traditional Clothes For Women

While the traditional outfit of Emirati men are mostly white and sometimes
shades of light colors, the women wear black. The traditional outfit of
Emirati women is Abaya. An elegant loose fitting flowing black cloak. The
Abaya is always worn on top of other clothes. Underneath the cloak, women
wear traditional or western clothes. The dark cloak also helps hide the bright
colored clothes. Abaya is not a garment exclusive to Emirati women. Most of
the Islamic world, including North Africa and Asia, has adopted this as a part
of their Islamic custom. Abaya covers every part of the body from neck to
bottom except for the feet and palms. Traditional Abayas are plain black.
Modern Abayas festooned with simple embroidery designs are in vogue
nowadays apart from plain grey and brown shades. Although materials like cotton and linen are
used to make to suit the hot desert climate, the most popular material for Abayas is crepe.
Hijab is the umbrella term covering different types of headdresses worn by Muslim women. The
Hijab covers the neck and hair according to Islamic teachings. There are numerous hijab styles,
which we will talk about soon. Very light material which allows for aeration is used to make the
headdress. Both headdresses and face veil comes under the Hijab.

5

The Traditional Food Of The UAE

The most popular Emirati dish, and common Arabic
food, is the classic shawarma. This is a non-
vegetarian delicacy which includes chicken, lamb, or
beef, along with a number of vegetables, mixed with
mayonnaise, and wrapped in soft flatbread. This wrap
is the perfect snack to grab on the go, and restaurants
often serve platters of shawarmas as a starter for
larger dinners. For vegetarians, the falafel is the
perfect alternative. The falafel consists of a deep-fried
chickpea patty, combined with fresh vegetables and
dressing, wrapped up in flatbread. Falafels, too, are found in almost every restaurant and
cafeteria across the city, and are a popular snack for those looking to avoid some meat, or even
to try something new.

Though Emirati food is famous for its meat, there are a range of
healthier options for those looking to cut back on the calories. A
popular dish is Fattoush, a salad made of fresh lettuce, diced
tomatoes, cucumbers, mint leaves, onion, garlic, lemons, and
olive oil, and is often served with Levantine bread. This simple
salad is quite filling, and works well as an appetizer or as a full
meal.

Rigag, the Emirati Crepe as some may call it. It is healthier and
made with wheat, they’ll add additional toppings as you like, such
as egg and cheese.

Fattesh is another popular Emirati dish, and is perfect for an early
evening meal. This three-layer dish comprises of bread soaked in
stock, with the middle layer made of chickpeas and stuffed
aubergines, topped with yoghurt and tahini sauce. People often
add parsley and pine nuts to this, for some extra flavour.

6

By virtue of Vision 2021, the UAE is striving to
diversify its income resources by moving away from
oil. In January 2012, Sheikh Mohammed launched
the Green Economy initiative under the slogan: A
green economy for sustainable development.
Under this initiative, the UAE seeks to become a
global hub and a successful model of the new green
economy, to enhance the country's
competitiveness and sustainability and preserve its
environment for future generations.
Through this initiative, the UAE aims to become
one of the world leaders in this area as well as a
centre for the export and re-export of green products and technologies, and to maintain a
sustainable environment to support long-term economic growth while protecting the
environment.
The initiative includes a range of programmes and policies in the areas of energy, agriculture,
investment and sustainable transport in addition to new environmental and constructional
policies.

7

The UAE is one of the most multicultural
countries in the world. Emirati culture is based
on Arabian culture, with influences from the
cultures of East Africa and Indian Subcontinent.
Emirati culture is based on Arabian culture, with
influences from the cultures of East Africa and
Indian Subcontinent. The religion of Islam has
had a prominent influence on local architecture,
music, attire, cuisine, and lifestyle.
A Country which follows a culture similar to UAE
is Saudi Arabia. Both Saudi Arabia and the United
Arab Emirates are very similar in a number of
ways; culturally, economically, and even in sharing
the same traditions. The U.A.E., like Saudi Arabia,
censors the media and anything else they find offensive. Using foul language in public,
disrespecting local culture, or anything in that field of play can result in severe penalties such as
jail time, or even deportation.

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