Emirati Festivals & Traditions
There are many holidays and festivals celebrated in the UAE.
The Dubai International Kite Festival
Dubai Marathon
Dubai Desert Classic & Abu Dhabi Golf Championship
Emirates World Series Horse Race
Abu Dhabi International Jazz Festival
The International Film Festivals
Camel Racing
The Red Bull Air Race
Formula One
The Formula One race is held each year on the Yas Marina circuit. It is very popular with tourists and locals alike.
The Formula One race is held each year on the Yas Marina circuit. It is very popular with tourists and locals alike.
The ABU Dhabi Science Festival
National Day
New Year's Eve
Henna
Kohl
Eid
The Arabic word for festival is Eid. There are some important religious festivals celebrated every year.
Click on the photograph if you want to learn about Eid:
The Arabic word for festival is Eid. There are some important religious festivals celebrated every year.
Click on the photograph if you want to learn about Eid:
Hospitality
Being courteous, hospitable and behaving honourably are very important in the Emirates. People are made welcome when they visit someone's home. They are treated as an honoured guest.
Being courteous, hospitable and behaving honourably are very important in the Emirates. People are made welcome when they visit someone's home. They are treated as an honoured guest.
The men below are drinking mint tea. One man is smoking shisha.
The Dhow
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The Dhow was the boat that was used when men went fishing or pearl fishing. |
Source: Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort
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The Al Baggarah was also used for pearl fishing. |
Pearl Fishing
Here is the equipment that the pearl divers used.
Here you can see the equipment used by the pearl merchant when buying and selling pearls.
Using Materials
Mats and containers were made out of the palm fronds. Fans were also made from palm fronds. |
Source: Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort
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Boats
The Al Abra and the Al Banoush were used to transport people. |
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Source: Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort
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This piece of equipment is called a Dawar Shami. It is used to pull boats onto land from the sea. |
As well as pearl fishing many people on the coast depended on fishing to make a living.
Source: Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort
As a result many boat builders were employed to build the dhows and other boats.
Source: Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort
Folk music & dance
Emiratis of the past were very dependent on the sea for their livelihood. Many songs relate to activities such as pearl fishing. They men sang together as they worked. Folk dances are performed by two rows of men opposite each other.
Emiratis of the past were very dependent on the sea for their livelihood. Many songs relate to activities such as pearl fishing. They men sang together as they worked. Folk dances are performed by two rows of men opposite each other.
Another dance is the sword dance. Click on the video below to see it.
In this picture you can see two different types of tambourine. The nisk, in the centre of the picture, is a coconut sound box, decorated with shells and beads. There is also a stringed instrument called a rababa. The frame of the rababa is made of wood. Goatskin is stretched out over the frame. It is played with a bow and has a spike a the bottom so that it can be rested on the ground while being played.
Here are some other instruments: |
Source: Dubai Museum and Al Fahidi Fort
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Falconry
Camels
Camels have always been very important in the UAE.
Camels have always been very important in the UAE.
Jewellery
Jewellery that was popular in the past was mainly made of silver. Jewellery was part of a woman's dowry. Coins were often used to decorate jewellery. It was often embedded with precious stones such as rubies, onyx and turquoise. Coral was also very popular. Bracelets for the wrists and upper arms as well as anklets to be worn just above the ankle were sold. Rings for fingers and toe rings were also common. Special head pieces were also made. Here are some examples:
Jewellery that was popular in the past was mainly made of silver. Jewellery was part of a woman's dowry. Coins were often used to decorate jewellery. It was often embedded with precious stones such as rubies, onyx and turquoise. Coral was also very popular. Bracelets for the wrists and upper arms as well as anklets to be worn just above the ankle were sold. Rings for fingers and toe rings were also common. Special head pieces were also made. Here are some examples:
Tourists often buy modern jewellery which has been inspired by traditional jewellery. Here are some examples of what people have bought.
Children's Games
One of these games sounds like great craic. It is called Al Sebya. A circle was drawn in the sand. One team stood inside the circle, while the other team, which was outside the circle, had to sprint through the circle in order to reach the other side with out getting caught.