| |
| Fishing |
|
|
The
people of the UAE, like those of the rest of the peninsula,
are of Arab stock. Their forefathers formed part of successive
waves of migration 2,000-3,000 years ago that spread eastwards
across Arabia, bringing with them their culture, their language
and their skills at surviving in what was becoming an increasingly
harsh climate.
As
they arrived, they mingled and then merged with the people
already living in the region now known as the UAE, people
who, like them, were of Semitic stock. Inscriptions in now-extinct
Semitic languages found on archaeological sites at Mileiha,
in Sharjah, and at al-Dur, in Umm al-Qaiwain, testify to the
presence of these early inhabitants, but in the centuries
that followed, the
|
|
|
population
coalesced into a homogeneous whole, united by a common heritage,
and, since the coming of Islam in the seventh century AD,
by a common faith.
The
people of the UAE have seen dramatic change in the few short
years since the state was established, change that has provided
them with all the benefits of a modern, developed society.
At the same time, however, both government and people are
determined that their heritage shall be preserved, in line
with Sheikh Zayed's belief that 'a people that knows not its
past can have neither a present nor a future'.
In
the past, life in the UAE was hard and it took extraordinary
skill to be able to survive in the harsh terrain and arid
climate. Today, things are easier, but by holding on to their
heritage the people are able to draw upon their confidence
in their past to tackle and overcome the challenges of the
present and future.
|
| Pearling |
|
|
|
Along
the coast, groups like the Qubeisat, the Rumaithat and the
Sudan, all part of the Bani Yas, engaged in pearl diving or
fishing. Indeed, many of the men spent part of the year in
the oases and the remainder at sea, following a lifestyle
far different from the romantic image of the nomadic bedu.
The
women of the family stayed at home, looking after the date-palm
gardens and the children, obliged to develop a tough and resilient
independence far removed from the false perceptions held in
much of the world about the women of Arabia.
|
|
In
the heyday of the pearling industry, over 1,200 pearling boats
operated out of the area now known as the UAE, each carrying
an average crew of about 18 men. All the boats from the same
port under the authority of one sheikh departed for the main
summer harvest at the beginning of June in one great picturesque
swoop of sail and returned to port together, approximately
120 days later, towards the end of September.
Life
was hard for the individual diver, but pearling was not merely
a trade or a means of subsistence, it was an entirely integrated
social system, which left behind a rich heritage following
the collapse of the industry in the 1930s.
Although
the days of large numbers of pearling dhows heading off at
the start of the pearling season are long past, efforts are
being made to revive the pearl fishery to ensure that this
traditional way of life will be preserved in some way.
|
| |
Boat
Building
|
|
When
pearling was at its height, the most important manufacturing
industry of the southern Gulf was boat-building. Today in
many of the UAE cities and towns, in particular in the Bateen
area of Abu Dhabi and along the creek at Ajman, boat-builders
can still be seen hard at work constructing dhows with few
tools and no blueprints, practising the skills that have
been handed down for centuries.
Nowadays,
traditional dhows are used as short-haul cargo vessels while
specially adapted craft take part in traditional sailing
races.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| Falconry |
|
|
|
Falconry,
an integral part of desert life for many centuries, was practised
originally for purely practical reasons, i.e. the necessity
to supplement a meagre diet of dates, milk and bread with
a tasty hare or well-fed bustard. In time it developed into
a major sport enjoyed by rich and poor alike.
The
saker (Falco cherrug) and the peregrine (Falco peregrinus)
are the two main species of falcon used for hunting in the
UAE, the former being the most popular since it is well-suited
to desert hawking. The female saker (al hurr), larger and
more powerful, is utilised more frequently than the male (garmoush).
Sakers, brave, patient hunters with keen eyesight, take easily
to houbara as their primary quarry. They are less fussy feeders
and more able to cope with the stress and rigours of camp
life than the temperamental peregrine whose brittle feathers
tend to get damaged when struggling with houbara.
|
| |
| Cultural
Organisations |
|
Prominent
cultural centres and organisations are: the Cultural Foundation
in Abu Dhabi, the Cultural and Scientific Forum in Dubai,
the Department of Culture and Information in Sharjah, the
Fujairah Cultural Organisation, the Studies and Archives
Centre in Ras al-Khaimah, and the Juma Al Majid Centre.
Significant too in the promotion of cultural activities
are annual awards such as the Sultan Al Owais Award, the
Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Award and the Sheikha
Fatima bint Hazza Award. Other institutions which continue
to make meaningful contributions to cultural awareness include
the National Heritage Revival Organisation and the Marriage
Fund.
The
Cultural Foundation in Abu Dhabi is made up of three major
institutions, the Arts and Culture Establishment, the National
Library and the National Archives. Recently, the Centre
for Documentation and Research, which was originally part
of the Cultural Foundation, has transferred to the President's
Office. The National Library contains a large collection
of books known as the Gulf and Arabian Peninsula Library,
a significant collection of manuscripts and an online database.
Its publishing section has in recent times been very active,
issuing a wide selection of books on science, art, heritage
and historical subjects. There is also a section for the
production of compact discs, audio and videocassettes of
selected programmes and publications.
In
Dubai the Culture and Scientific Forum has organised a number
of cultural activities, including the annual Rashid Award
which honours UAE graduates with distinctions in various
subjects. Sharjah has a wide range of cultural institutions.
Notable among them is the Department of Culture and Information
which organises the annual book fair in November. It also
organises annual cultural and technical festivals for children
and the Sharjah Arts Biennial, an international event which
attracts artists from all over the world. Other cultural
events include the Sharjah Award for Arab Creativity. In
recognition of Sharjah's outstanding role in promoting Arab
and Islamic culture the emirate was chosen by the Arab League
as the Arab City of Culture in 1998.
In
Fujairah an active cultural role is being played by the
Fujairah Cultural Organisation with the assistance of lectures
and seminars. The Ras al-Khaimah Studies and Archives Centre
is another institution whose cultural role in the country
cannot be over emphasised. The centre aims to present to
the world the true picture of the Arabian Gulf and its history,
a target also set for the Abu Dhabi-based Emirates Centre
for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) which specialises
in the analysis of local and international issues.
To
consolidate the drive for cultural awareness among the country's
youth a number of sports and cultural clubs were set up
in addition to newspapers, magazines, radio and TV channels
which enriched the artistic and cultural life of the community.
Substantial capital investment has also been made in establishing
state-of-the art museums, as well as renovating and conserving
historic monuments and sites.
|
Museums
and Heritage Villages
|
|
The
UAE has a wide range of museums and heritage villages which
provide a fascinating introduction to its traditional lifestyle,
offering a host of authentic experiences, such as an evening
sitting around a campfire drinking gahwah (Arabic coffee)
while a camp guide describes bedouin crafts and customs.
Other experiences capture the ancient techniques and traditional
culture associated with village life, boating and pearl
diving through reconstructions of dhows, old souqs (marketplaces),
winter settlements and date gardens.
Several
of the emirates' magnificent old forts house museums full
of items of archaeological, natural history and ethnographic
interest. Here too, one can find vivid reconstructions of
town and country life. Other purpose-built museums use the
latest interactive media to tell the story of the country's
ancient past or illustrate the wonders of nature. Audio-visual
displays, computer games and scaled models of ancient settlements
have all been utilised to interpret the past and the present.
In
Dubai and Sharjah, whole streets have been restored to their
former glory. Particularly interesting in terms of vernacular
architecture are wind towers which are designed to catch
even the slightest breeze and funnel the cooler air down
to the courtyard houses, providing the visitor with first-hand
experience of this early form of air-conditioning. Narrow
streets wind between white-washed walls, with copper-studded
wooden doors giving access to shaded courtyards and traditionally-furnished
houses.
|
|
