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The United Arab Emirates Preserves Its Heritage, Especially In Dubai

By Habeeb Salloum

"A country that knows not its past has neither present or future." These words by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and late President of the United Arab Emirates, truly describe the United Emirates of today. The past monuments and traditions of the country are being revitalized and preserved, especially in Dubai. Using these vestiges from the past as basis, a new and proud nation is being created.

Thanks to the country's folklore, archaeological discoveries, re-built ancient forts and towers, museums, renovated old-fashioned homes and re-created heritage villages, the people of the UAE are familiar and proud of their history. Without doubt, it is a solid base on which to build a future. Culture and venerable ancient monuments, the very essence and expression of the past, are being preserved for future generations.

Despite the fact that the country, in the last quarter century, has been transformed into one of the most developed nations on the globe, its people remain attached to their culture and heritage. The Arab virtues of family values, hospitality, respect for others, religious tolerance and pride in traditions remain among the most prized assets among the people of the UAE in all strata of society. Travellers visiting the country never cease to be amazed with the warm welcome they receive whether, it be in a desert tent or in a luxury hotel.

Nationals of the country, walking the streets, working in offices or travelling the byways, dressed in the spotless-white traditional kandoura or dishdasha (male Arab robe) and women attired in black silken abayas, embroidered with colourful threads, reflect the attachment of the UAE citizens with their past. Local folkloric traditions, firmly rooted in Islamic practices are being revived throughout the country. The melodies and dances such as the songs of the pearl-divers or the hadda (chanting) of the desert caravan and the ancient male sword dances, symbolize an active connection with the people's heritage that is both romantic and nationalistic.               

The rulers of all the seven UAE emirates have gone to great lengths to protect the people's heritage - to a large extent revitalising the country's ancient structures, oral memories, artisan industry and Bedouin traditions. Important among these is the rekindling of the handicrafts like the manufacture of jewellery and household utensils, the weaving of fabrics, the revival of herbal medicine in a modern form; and the making by hand of palm fibre bags, baskets, mats and trays in handicraft centres like the Abu Dhabi Handicraft Centre.

Dhow building is still practised and these traditional Arab ships continue to be employed for pleasure and trading. The venerable art of falconry, along with camel, horse and donkey racing are as popular today as in the past ages.

In Abu Dhabi, Heritage Village has been created to exhibit that emirate's cultural history. It features how the former Bedouins, fishermen, pearl divers and tradesmen once lived. In it's re-created traditional homes, school children and tourists live for a while in the Abu Dhabi of a few decades ago. At times, amid this atmosphere from the past, dance and musical festivals are held.

Innumerable museums have been opened, many in renovated-antiquated buildings. Ancient forts have been restored and many are now museums, sheltering historical artifacts.  Qasr Al Hisn, an old fort in the heart of Abu Dhabi, has been handsomely renewed and is now a documentation centre and library, housing historical texts and over a million books. The old fort in Al Ain, Abu Dhabi's cultural capital, has been renovated and converted into a museum which contains the most ancient archaeological objects in the UAE.

The Ajman Museum, located in an ancient fort, displays the former ways of life in the UAE.  Sound and lighting effects, seemingly bring alive, barbers, cafe owners, grocers and herbalists plying their trade. Somewhat different, the Ras Al Khaimeh Fort, converted into a museum, displays fossils some quarter a million years old. 

Sharjah, which has been labelled the cultural capital of the Middle East, tops all other emirates in its preservation of Arab culture and traditions. A lover of history, its ruler, Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, has saturated his state with beautiful fountains, monuments, roundabouts and re-created souks, all representing some feature from UAE history.              

The magnificent New Souk, built in traditional style, is an architectural wonder filled with fountains, malls, stone mashrabiyas (latticework windows) and windtowers. Nearby, the Souk Al Majarra with its impressive golden dome reflects yet another aspect from Sharjah's past.

Looming above all the cultural sites is the ‘Cultural Roundabout’ in the middle of which is displayed a huge open Koran. Edging the Roundabout is a superb museum - exhibiting reproductions of homes and tombs through the ages, a palace-like cultural centre, the Ruler's Diwan and an attractive mosque, all very striking in their delicate oriental architecture. Said to be the most beautiful spot in the Emirate of Sharjah, it evokes the attachment of this state to the Islamic faith, culture and traditions.

Overshadowing all the rejuvenated monuments and sites in the UAE is Old Dubai with its renovated wind-towers, the renovated Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House - a residence of the former rulers of Dubai, and the completely reconstructed Bayt Al Wakeel - the city’s first office building. Restored on a massive scale, the city's ancient district is now one large museum.  Dubai's Al Fahidi Fort has been converted into an interesting archaeological and ethnographic museum. Within its walls are colourful and evocative dioramas, complete with life-size figures and sounds, vividly depicting pre-oil Dubai's everyday life in a living form.        

At the heart of this re-born section of booming Dubai are the Diving and Heritage Villages. Both of these museum-towns and the edging renovated old buildings with their attractive wind-towers have become the city's most important tourist attractions. 

In these Villages, the swish of Arab national dress, the clinking of the bangles, the sparkle of traditional jewellery, the smell of henna, the aroma of freshly baked bread, the twinkle of kholed eyes, enshrouded with the sound of laughter, all evoke pleasant memories from an Arab culture thousand of years old. Amid this atmosphere, one easily travels back to ancient Arabia  - to the time when that land was a realm of mystery and romance.

The optimum time to visit the Heritage Village is during the annual Dubai Shopping Festival, held from mid January to mid February - when a dozen Arab countries present their authentic Bedouin folklore. The ethics of the Arabs such as chivalry, generosity, hospitality, kindness and pride, as they were practised in the past, are celebrated in dance, poetry and song. It is a taste of old Arabia extended to visitors from all over the world.    

In all parts of the UAE, beside the countless restored structures with their museums, the past is attractively kept alive in the daily lives of the people. The colourful weddings with their henna ceremonies are enhanced by the ayyalah al ardha, an age-old male sword dance, bolstered by the women singing and dancing. Drums and other percussion instruments provide the rhythmic beat for the ayyalah while women performers called na'ashet cheer them on.

Visitors to this land, galloping into the 21st century at break-neck speed, will be lucky indeed if they should be invited to one of these weddings.  If not, they can enjoy the country's past in a clean, safe and for the most part enchanting atmosphere, made still more alluring by the courtesy, genuine warmth and hospitality of the people - virtues inherited from their ancestors and practised with friends and strangers alike.

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