THE EMIRATI TRADITION.
BY SYED SAIM HASAN.
GRADE 9(C)
TMS DUBAI.
• The UAE has long been a melting pot of cultures
with over 200 nationalities calling it home today.
As expats, we have all heard of a few authentic
Emirati traditions.
• But in a country where so many communities
and traditions co-exist, do we really know what
the UAE customs and traditions are? Maybe or
maybe not.
• In this power point presentation you will be
learning more about the Emirati tradition.
EMIRATI CULTURE: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UAE CULTURE AND
HERITAGE
• In the past, Emirati traditions varied between two main groups:
desert-dwelling nomads called Bedouins and seafaring pearl divers
and fishermen. Most locals we meet today trace their origins to
these groups.
• Villages of Bedouins, divers and fishermen have now evolved to
form a modern, multicultural society with a population of over 9
million. While expats make up the majority, locals remain at the
core of the UAE with Emirati culture, traditions and heritage
proudly displayed on several occasions.
• Did you know that the Arabic term for Bedouins ('Badu') is plural
for 'Badawi'? This word translates to 'Badiyah dweller', where
'Badiyah' means visible land, like a plain or a desert. Bedouins,
therefore, is the English term for 'those of the desert'.
TRADITIONAL CLOTHING
• Emirati clothing has evolved only a little since the times
of Bedouin ancestors. Certain aspects of it still mirror
the traditional outfits worn by locals in the past. For
instance, the harsh desert sun required caution when it
came to covering skin. So Bedouins opted for full
sleeves and long hemlines. Furthermore, the climate
made it uncomfortable to wear fitted clothes. Hence, in
the UAE culture, we see loose cuts in the traditional
dresses donned by Emirati men and women. Emirati
clothing has since been all about functionality and
comfort combined with the UAE traditions of following
the Islamic values practised in the region.
EMIRATI CLOTHING FOR MEN
• We often see Emirati men in the long white traditional
clothing around the UAE. These are
called Kandura or Dishdasha. Since Bedouins preferred to
wear white to reflect the sun’s rays, it became the most
popular colour choice for Emirati men. Browns and greys
are also worn but usually shelved for cooler months.
The Kandura is worn with the Ghutra, a headscarf usually
white or white with red checks. This headscarf is held in
place with an Agal which is essentially a fancy black rope. In
the past, the Ghutra protected Bedouin men’s faces against
sand on windy days, while the Agal was used to tie their
camels at night.
EMIRATI CLOTHING FOR WOMEN
• Local women in the UAE can often be seen
in Abayas which are loose, flowy black dresses layered
over outfits. This, of course, reflects the Arab world’s
Islamic values. The traditional dress is worn with
headscarves called Shelas. Fashion-conscious Emirati
women sometimes use designer headscarves to cover
their heads. There are additional elements that local
women add to cover their faces. The Niqāb covers the
entire face except for the eyes, whereas the
optional Gishwa covers the eyes and face but is thin
enough to see through.
KANDORA ABAYA
PERFUMES
• Perfumes are also an essential characteristic of
the traditions of UAE. Emirati women and men
also enjoy wearing perfumes. Notes of Oud and
rose are the most expensive and also the most
popular. It is also common among Arabs, in
general, to burn Bakhoor (woodchips soaked in
fragrant oils) to scent their garments before
leaving the house.
TRADITIONAL EMIRATI FOOD THAT REPRESENTS THE CULTURE
OF UAE
• Historically, traditional UAE cuisine used to consist
of camel or goat meat and fish from the Arabian Sea.
Back then, Bedouins included complex carbohydrates
in their diet to get energy for long journeys across the
desert. Traders and merchants travelling through the
country also bought Indian spices to the region. We
see a lot of this influence in local UAE food as we
know it today. Meat and rice make up most main
dishes along with fragrant spices like turmeric,
saffron, cardamom and cinnamon.
COMMON SPICES USED IN FOOD
SAFFRON
TURMERIC
CINAMOM
CARDAMOM
COFFEE & DATES
• One of the most significant Emirati values is hospitality.
You may have noticed the Dallah coffee pot on one-
dirham coins. That's how serious the UAE culture and
traditions are about making guests feel at home. It is
natural for Emiratis to give visitors a warm welcome with
Arabic coffee and some dates. Emirati hosts usually serve
coffee blended with cardamom and saffron called Qahwa,
in tiny cups. The coffee comes with a side of dates, which
have been a source of nutrition in the region for centuries.
It helps that they have also been around the longest, what
with the abundance of palm trees in the UAE.
KAWAH DATES
TRADITIONAL EMIRATI DANCE
POPULAR EMIRATI SPORTS
• A lot of the Emirati sports originated way back in
the times of Bedouins. Although, a lot of these
are more cultural than sporty. Bedouins engaged
in some of these activities to survive, rather than
for leisure. However, it's still impressive that the
heritage echoes among modern locals today who
not only enjoy these sports but also participate
with great enthusiasm.
CAMEL RACING
• Used mainly for transport and their milk by early
Emiratis, camels or 'ships of the desert' have come
to represent all things Emirati. Originally, it was a
tradition among Bedouins to race their camels to
celebrate weddings or special occasions, with
winnings consisting of basic necessities like food
or shelter. The UAE has preserved this historically
significant sport and Emiratis today frequently
enjoy camel races in all major cities. With about
14,000 racing camels and 15 race tracks around
the UAE, camel racing is a highly popular sport.
The UAE camel racing season generally takes
place every year from October until April.
FALCONRY
• You must have noticed that the official emblem of the
country has a golden falcon on it. It's not hard to imagine
why falconry remains a popular sport among Emiratis.
The birds represent courage and strength, both of which
are central to Emirati culture and all that it stands for.
• Falconry was originally a hunting tactic among tribes of
the past. Today, falconers train and breed their birds
with care, sometimes as a pastime and sometimes to
participate in falconry exhibitions and events that take
place in the UAE all year. There is an art to it though. In a
competition, falconers race against one another to lure
their birds with live prey (called tilwa). Proud owners
also enter their falcons in dedicated beauty contests held
at the International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition.
HORSE RACING
• The UAE's equestrian streak can be linked to
another symbol of pride in the nation: the Arabian
horses. This popular horse breed traces its origin to
the Arabian Peninsula and was once a reliable
mode of transportation for riders in the desert. Fast
forward a couple of years and the tradition of
horse-riding has transformed into world-class
horse racing enjoyed by Emiratis in the UAE. The
country hosts an annual Dubai World Cup horse
race championship which has become one of the
biggest horse race events in the world. Last year,
the
Dubai World Cup 2017 was one of the richest horse
racing championship in the world
with over USD 10M in prize money.
FREE-DIVING
• Emiratis in the pre-oil era went searching for pearls in the
sea for months at a time. It was a lucrative source of income
that required skill, courage and technique. Today, diving as
a means to earn is a thing of the past. Emiratis have adopted
this old UAE tradition as a sport instead. Free-diving is a
favourite pastime for most UAE locals. To be victorious in a
competition, divers have to hold their breath underwater
without resurfacing. The UAE has taken the sport to the
next level with an annual Fazza Championship for Free-
Diving which invites both GCC and international divers to
participate.
• The annual HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Heritage Festival demonstrates UAE traditions and popular
Emirati sports including camel racing and falconry. You can
check it out at Sweihan City in Abu Dhabi from January 29
till 11 February 2018 to get a taste of Emirati traditions.
