Al Ahsa Oasis now a UNESCO World Heritage site

KSA’s Al Ahsa oasis has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

The oasis is considered one of the largest natural agricultural oases in the world. Named after the region in eastern Saudi Arabia, it is located about 60 km inland from the coast of the Arabian Gulf and has 65 to 70 fresh- and hot-water springs and date palms spread over 10,000 hectares of agricultural land. Experts say the region is dotted with archaeological sites dating to the Neolithic period.

According to the Saudi submission to UNESCO, Al Ahsa “was a commercial centre for the Hajar territory of Bahrain.” Historically, Al-Ahsa was the main city in Al-Bahrain province, hosting most of its population and providing most of its agricultural output. It had geographical and strategic importance to ancient trade routes, and maintained cultural links with civilisations in Mesopotamia, Egypt and the Levant. 

Prince Sultan bin Salman, President of Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, said the ancient region was once a hub for agricultural activities. “Its inhabitants deployed various agricultural techniques and sophisticated irrigation systems extending along the eastern areas of Al Ahsa Oasis,” he said.

Other Saudi sites that have found place on the World Heritage List include the rock-cut monuments of Madâin Sâlih in Madinah Province; At-Turaif District in ad-Dir’iyah in Riyadh; the historic Red-Sea port city of Jeddah, the gate to Makkah; and the rock art of the Hai’l region.

Source: Center for International Communication. Al Ahsa Oasis is now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Esplanade’s Pesta Raya reinterprets traditional Nusantara arts

The 17th edition of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts returns from 12 to 15 July 2018, coinciding with the celebration of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, which extends till mid-July.

This year, the festival showcases the history of the Nusantara. Said Fezhah Maznan, Programmer, The Esplanade Company, “Pesta Raya has always celebrated the rich Malay heritage, arts and culture from the region, and through the festival we hope to continue forging meaningful relationships with the artists and our audiences. This year, we have works which highlight the Malay identity, with thoughtful re-imagining of Malay folklore and characters in our festival commission Alkesah, and fresh re-interpretations of the traditional keroncong and dikir barat.

"We also look back and pay tribute to the rich history of Malay dance in Singapore, with a special performance by Sriwana. We hope that many will find ways to connect with the diverse programmes at the festival and immerse themselves in some of the very best the Nusantara can offer.”

Dikir barat is a traditional musical form that involves singing in groups, while keroncong is both the name of a musical instrument and the name of an Indonesian musical style.
 
Festival commissions

• Written by Zulfadli Rashid and helmed by director Aidli Mosbit, this year’s festival commission Alkesah (“as the story goes”) re-imagines Malay folklore. Beloved characters such as Mat Jenin (the hopeless dreamer), Sang Kancil (the mouse deer), Pak Belalang (the village astrologer) and more, come together in Kampung Alkesah in a tale of misfortune, survival and secret love.

This is the first time the festival is commissioning a Malay pantomime at the Esplanade Theatre Studio, and will feature a stellar cast including Siti Khalijah Zainal, Jeff Catz, Siti Hajar Gani, Hatta Said and more. Alkesah will also see musical theatre veteran Elaine Chan and vocal coach Babes Conde working for the first time on a Malay production.

• Another first for the festival is a commission for a non-ticketed performance, GhaMuhyi: Melampaui Sempadan Ghazal, which will open the festival at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre on 12 July. This collaboration melds contemporary ghazal by the ensemble GhaMuhyi from Malaysia and the work of Singapore traditional Malay music groups Sri Mahligai and Orkestra Sri Temasek.

• Dress vintage and joget during Pesta Berpesta at the Esplanade Annexe Plaza and Annexe Studio on 14 July with popular music from the ’60s to the ’80s. The Esplanade presents Tarakucha!, a kebaya jazz performance conceived by Malaysian singer and actor Sean Ghazi. The event will feature original compositions and songs by P Ramlee, Sudirman and Jimmy Boyle.

There will be free performances by NADA (comprising Singapore musicians Rizman Putra and Safuan Johari), who will present a contemporary visual arts and sound project that specialises in conjuring up lost eras through music, as well as Indonesian duo Iramamama who will be playing nostalgic tunes and quirky sounds, from funk to post-punk music from their home country.

• Singapore-born Kuala Lumpur-based singer-songwriter Imran Ajmain, who sang the hit Seribu Tahun, celebrates a decade in music with a concert, First 10 Years, at the Esplanade Recital Studio. He follows in his father Ahmad Husaini Ajmain’s footsteps, writing for an array of Singaporean and Malaysian musicians such as Taufik Batisah, Hady Mirza, SleeQ and more. Besides featuring songs from his upcoming album, Imran will also be singing hits from the ’70s and ’80s which his father penned.
 
• Inspired by Indonesian folklore, guitarist Addy Cradle has written an epic love saga about a prince and a warrior princess. In Transcendence – The Legend of Ryu Wuri at the Esplanade Recital Studio, Addy provides the instrumental backdrop to his dark tale where visual artist Muhammad Izdi and video artist Wu Jun Han add to this multidisciplinary performance. This will be the first of three volumes that features a fusion of rock and traditional music from China, Indonesia, Japan and India.

• Trace the history of Malay dance with Singapore’s oldest Malay performing arts group Sriwana as they present Lenggang Legenda: Merintis Sejarah on 13 July at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre. The audience will be treated to iconic dances by the company that has produced the who’s who of the Singapore Malay dance scene, including Som Said, Osman Abd Hamid, Rizman Kassim and more.

The Classic Tarian Workshop by Sriwana on 14 July will be conducted by Ibu Surianty – also known as Mdm Lim Ah Choon – the Indonesian dance teacher who introduced repertoires of zapin and other Malay dances to Singapore in the ’60s.

• In their first-ever concert in Singapore, and fresh from performing on Astro’s singing competition Gegar Vaganza 2017, Dua Diva features ’80s pop diva Aishah and ’90s sensation Liza Hanim. With music direction by composer Datuk Ramli MS, who was also the judge of Gegar Vaganza, this one-night only performance will see them performing their own songs and also together.

• With 26 albums over the course of their 24-year career, Indonesian pop rock band GIGI returns to Singapore after seven years to perform classics such as 11 Januari, Terbang, Andai and Kepastian Yang Ku Tunggu. 

Screen capture from the Pesta Raya page on the Esplanade website, featuring theatre, music and dance acts as well as workshops.

• Combining Javanese and Western music traditions keroncong is widely believed to be a genre brought to Indonesia by the Portuguese, evolving to become the ukulele, guitar, violin, flute, cello and bass ensemble that many recognise today. For Pesta Raya, Indonesian composer Pak Liliek Jasqee leads his ensemble to pay homage to the musical, cultural and language ties between Indonesia and Singapore in Titian Nada Persaudaraan. Singapore jazz artist Rudy Djoharnaen will also perform familiar tunes and new compositions with the ensemble.

• The festival continues to feature programmes for the young and their families, including Walang Weh, a storytelling performance by the musicians and vocalists of RENTA Collective, Dek Hujan, a performance by P7:1SMA that combines spoken word, dance and soundscapes, as well as Kemas (a Malay term that means “tidy up”), a series of roving site-specific movement pieces performed at venues around Esplanade that examines everyday cleaning rituals as engaging and spiritual chores.

• At the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre, Ceria! Konsert Si Cilik returns this year where Singapore’s Malay children's songs are celebrated in a concert featuring performers between the ages of 10 to 16.

• Over at Esplanade’s dedicated space for children and families—PIP’s PLAYbox—will feature interactive storytelling sessions by Dalifah Shahril, who will also share more about how the sarong plays a significant part of Malay culture and identity, as well as sessions where children will also be able to craft their own kuih-muih (desserts).

• Following previous editions of Dikir Battle, this year’s festival offers another interpretation of the traditional art form of dikir barat. Dikir-pella by JUARA will showcase for the first time, classic dikir songs sung acappella by some of the finest singers in the scene.

• Back by popular demand, Pasar Pesta! curated by online shopping hub LalooLalang returns with a wide range of traditional handicraft as well as specially curated food vendors selling “instagram-able” and unique Malay food items.

Details:

Tickets for Pesta Raya – Malay Festival of Arts 2018 are available from Esplanade’s Box Office at Mezzanine level (call +65 6828 8377), the SISTIC Hotline (call +65 6348 5555) and all SISTIC outlets.

Get programme details

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Sheikh Zayed Book Award winners to be translated

Source: Sheikh Zayed Book Award.
2018 reading panel.

The Sheikh Zayed Book Award has launched a translation initiative in cooperation with the Frankfurt Book Fair NY branch, aiming to support publishing houses in translating the award’s winning titles into English, French and German.

HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said the initiative is part of activities to celebrate the Year of Zayed. “This year is witnessing the 12th edition of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, marking more than a decade of the hard work and effort that has laid the foundation for a cultural and literary landmark that seeks to celebrate creative literary scholars and intellectuals. The award has always been characterised by its openness to international cultures and encouraging remarkable cultural activity at both Arab and international levels," he said.

“This partnership is aimed at encouraging translations from Arabic into other languages and spreading Arab culture in the West, thus strengthening the position of the Sheikh Zayed Book Award among international awards as an incubator of Arab culture and promoter of dialogue among civilisations.”

HE Dr Ali Bin Tamim, Secretary General of the award, said: “The partnership of Sheikh Zayed Book Award with the Frankfurt Book Fair stems from our overarching vision to consistently support the constructive cultural communication between Arabic and other languages, as well as to continue bolstering the developing translation activities within the Arab world. Representing the cherished values of the award’s mission during the nation’s celebration of the Year of Zayed, this collaboration signifies the endeavours towards enriching cultures and arts, combining tradition and modernity, encouraging cultural openness, diversity, and acceptance of the other. From there springs our deep belief in the role of translation in promoting dialogue among civilisations and building the spirit of convergence among nations, reflecting what we strive for in this strategic partnership, which will be pivotal to realising the vision and objectives of the award.”

Juergen Boos, President of the Frankfurt Book Fair said: “Looking at the previous editions of the award and their winners’ records, and given my position as president of the Frankfurt Book Fair, member of the award’s Scientific Committee and follower of its journey since its inception, I can verily say that the award has undoubtedly become an international cultural platform, operating at the same level as other major literary awards. In that light, the award’s objectives combined with our endeavors have led to the crystallisation of this strategic partnership, which aims to facilitate the translation of the winning titles into German, English and French.

“This helps raise awareness internationally regarding the Sheikh Zayed Book Award, in addition to promoting the award’s work and winners at the cultural and literary international events, such as the Frankfurt Book Fair.”

The agreement also includes promoting the award’s winning titles among international publishing houses, with a special focus on the Literature and Children’s Literature categories. 

Abu Dhabi's Mother of the Nation Festival returns this March

The Mother of the Nation Festival, regarded as one of the UAE’s largest cultural events of its kind, is to return to the capital this year 22– 31 March.

The third edition of the festival, organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi, is to be held on Abu Dhabi Corniche and will be open daily from 4pm until midnight. Last year’s edition of the festival attracted more than 197,000 visitors over 10 days.

The Mother of the Nation Festival is dedicated to HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, and Chairwoman of the Supreme Council of Motherhood and Childhood; and is a tribute to her far-reaching inspirational values while celebrating her progressive vision and continual contributions to society. A series of displays, activities and performances throughout the festival will promote the importance of family coherence, with a special focus on mothers’ roles in promoting family cohesion and maintaining social values and traditions.

Source: Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi website. An aerial view of the Mother of the Nation Festival 2017.

The festival will also utilise Miral Asset Management’s new 600m beachfront leisure development A’l Bahar, which will be opened to the public for the first time for Mother of The Nation Festival.
HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General, Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said: “The festival not only honours Her Highness’s vision, care and values that she has instilled into our society, but will also celebrate all mothers here in the UAE and their fortitude, resilience and aspirations in raising our future generations.

Explore:

Watch the video introducing the Mother of the Nation Festival

Hashtag: #MOTNFestival

Al Ain Cultural Programme begins in UAE

As part of the annual Al Ain Cultural Programme, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi has hosted three events exploring Emirati culture and heritage.

Events at Qasr Al Muwaiji (قصر المويجعي Al Muwaiji Palace) on 19 October included the Bisht Workshop, which explored the history of the traditional garment worn by UAE rulers, and the different kinds of bisht (البشت) patterns associated with each ruler. Visitors also took part in a practical sewing workshop where they created their own bisht.

The monthly Poetry Evenings season also kicked off at Qasr Al Muwaiji on 19 October where visitors could take part in educational workshops, celebrating the nation’s poets and writers.

Source: Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. Poetry evening at the Qasr Al Muwaiji.

The historic Al Jahili Fort (قلعة الجاهلي) held the season’s first session of Memory of the Emirati Song with a diverse selection of performances, discussions and exhibitions exploring traditional songs from the 50s through to the 70s and original Emirati poetry that are deeply connected to the history and heritage of the UAE.

The 2017/18 programme at Al Jahili Fort will include Abu Dhabi Classics and The Trucial Scouts: Life and Times, an exhibition in collaboration with the UAE GHQ Armed Forces Administration and the Manpower Staff Museum & Military History Centre.

Visitors to Al Jahili Fort will also have the chance to participate in traditional handicrafts workshops every Tuesday, as well as police dog shows at the fort’s courtyard every Wednesday. Military band performances will take place every Thursday.

Details:

Check for upcoming events in the Al Ain Cultural Programme

UNESCO updates World Heritage Map

Source: UNESCO website.

The latest version of the World Heritage map, produced by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and National Geographic Maps with the generous support of Turkey, can now be ordered from the World Heritage Centre website.

The featured image on the Map presents the Historic Areas of Istanbul in Turkey, the country hosting the next session of the World Heritage Committee in July 2016.

The poster-sized wall map features all 1,031 World Heritage properties and is illustrated with photos with detailed captions. It also presents brief explanations of the World Heritage Convention and its related marine, earthen architecture and other conservation programmes.

Interested?

Make a donation and receive a free World Heritage map
Order your copy in English, French or Spanish
Download previous World Heritage maps

Arabic hospitality with coffee named as an intangible cultural heritage for humanity

The UNESCO committee for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage meeting in Namibia has inscribed 20 new elements on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The Representative List includes forms of expression that testify to the diversity of the intangible heritage and raise awareness of its importance. The review of nominations for inscription on this list is finished for this year, which saw 23 elements inscribed out of a total of 35 that were proposed.

The following elements were some of those inscribed on December 2:

Azerbaijan - Copper craftsmanship of Lahij
Copper craftsmanship of Lahij is the traditional practice of making and using copperware in the Lahij community of the Caucasus. The copper-smelting master prepares the copper which the coppersmith-hammerer then moulds it into thin plates. A craftsperson engraves the plates with designs that represent their environment and reflect traditional knowledge and values. People from Azerbaijan buy the copperware for daily use. The practice is transmitted from father to son and said to be a clear marker of Lahij identity.

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan - Aitysh/Aitys, art of improvisation
Aitysh/Aitys is a contest between two people on poetry improvisation spoken or sung to music of traditional instruments like the Kazakh dombra. The audience chooses the topics and the contestant who demonstrates the best musical skills, rhythm, originality and wit wins. Aitysh/Aitys is a popular cultural component and identity marker of bearer communities in multiethnic societies of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, featuring at local festivities or nationwide events often to raise important social issues. Transmission is from older to younger generations.

Saudi Arabia - Alardah Alnajdiyah, dance, drumming and poetry in Saudi Arabia
Alardah is a traditional cultural expression combining dance, drumming and poetry chanting that is considered fundamental to practising communities. It involves a poet chanting verses, which are then sung by other performers carrying swords and moving in time to beating drums. Featured at family, local and national events, it is performed by males while women design the costumes. Neither age nor class acts as a barrier to participation, assisting social cohesion. Practice transmitters are individuals, schools, troupes, neighbourhoods and provinces.

Turkmenistan - Epic art of Gorogly
The epic art of Gorogly is an oral performing tradition that describes the achievements of legendary hero Gorogly and his 40 cavalrymen. Practitioners are performers in Turkmenistan who specialise in the epic, which incorporates narration, singing, poetry, vocal improvisation and music. It gives bearer communities a strong sense of identity, reflecting aspirations of the Turkmen people for a happy life and promoting values such as bravery, honesty, friendship, and fairness. Masters combine informal teaching with skills transmission during public performances.

UAE, Oman - Al-Razfa, a traditional performing art
Al-Razfa is a traditional performing art of the United Arab Emirates and Sultanate of Oman that was initially used in victory celebrations. Now, it is a popular form of communal entertainment seen at festive events, involving groups of men holding wooden replica rifles chanting verses, often featuring traditional Nabati poetry, to music.  To appeal to a younger audience, instruments and music have been adapted. Skills transmission is informal within families.

In the act of serving coffee, or qahwa, in a majlis in Oman, with a traditional coffee pot. The coffee cups are traditional Chinese tea cups. Qahwa is traditionally offered with dates to balance the bitter taste. Fresh fruit is also served.

UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar - Arabic coffee, a symbol of generosity
Serving Arabic coffee is an important aspect of hospitality in Arab societies. Traditionally prepared in front of house guests by men and women, it is also served by sheikhs and heads of tribes. The beans are roasted, ground with a mortar and pestle then brewed in a pot. The most important or oldest guest is served first. The practice is passed on within families and includes young people visiting the market with their elders to learn how to select beans.

UAE; Saudi Arabia; Oman; Qatar - Majlis, a cultural and social space
Majlis (sitting places) are community spaces where people discuss local issues, settle disputes, exchange news and be entertained, playing an important role in the transmission of oral heritage. The areas are usually large, comfortable and equipped with beverage-making facilities. Elders with extensive local knowledge are the main practice bearers, while judges and religious sheikhs adjudicate on disputes. Women have their own Majlis, although prominent figures may attend others more academic. Practice transmission occurs when children attend with older community members.

Interested?

Get the recipe for Omani coffee

Old City of Sana'a and Old Walled City of Shibam in Yemen inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger

The World Heritage Committee has voiced concerns over the damage inflicted to the old city of Sana’a (سناء), an Islamic city of historic and heritage importance. The neighbourhood of al Qasimi and the 12^th century al-Mahdi Mosque and surrounding houses have been affected. The majority of the colourful, decorated doors and window panes characteristic of the city’s domestic architecture have been shattered or damaged.

Situated in a mountain valley at an altitude of 2,200 m, Sana’a has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years. In the 7^th and 8^th centuries the city became a major centre for the propagation of Islam. Its religious and political heritage can be seen in 103 mosques, 14 hammams and over 6,000 houses, all built before the 11^thcentury. Sana’a’s many-storeyed tower-houses built of rammed earth add to the beauty of the site, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1986.

The Committee also noted that the Old Walled City of Shibam (شِبَام) in Yemen is under potential threat from the armed conflict, which compounds safeguarding and management problems already observed at the site. 

The 39^th session of the World Heritage Committee started on 28 June and will continue till 8 July under the chair of Maria Böhmer, Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office and member of the Bundestag. The inscription of sites will continue through 5 July.

500 years of Turkish Coffee remembered at the Topkapi Palace Museum

Source: Topkapi Palace Museum website.

The Topkapi Palace Museum is hosting A Drop of Pleasure: 500 years of Turkish Coffee in collaboration with the Turkish Coffee Culture and Research Association. 

The exhibition is on till June 15 2015, and was inspired by the entry of Turkish coffee culture and tradition into the UNESCO "Non-Material Heritage" list in 2013. 

The museum separately announced that the first and third halls of the Treasury Section will be closed to visitors till August 14, 2015 for restoration.

Batashewala complex in Delhi restored

Source: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture.

The restoration of the 11-acre Batashewala complex in Delhi, India – undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in collaboration with the Archaeological Survey of India with a grant from the US Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation – has been completed.

The Complex, which is adjacent to the Humayun’s Tomb world heritage site, had suffered from decades of neglect and inappropriate development. The complex encompasses three 16th century garden-tombs, including the tomb of Mirza Muzaffar Hussain, grand-nephew of Emperor Humayun and son-in-law of Emperor Akbar.

The conservation effort, begun by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture in 2011,worked to reverse the damage through a multi-disciplinary effort aimed at restoring the historic architectural character of the site. Traditional materials and building techniques were employed in order to replace 20th century alterations carried out with modern materials, such as cement. Portions of the structures and the enclosure walls – demolished in 1989 to create a camp site – were reconstructed. The Mughal char-bagh landscape design of the two enclosed gardens were restored. Trees favoured by the Mughals – mango, neem, citrus, amongst others – were planted.

The Batashewala complex will eventually be connected to the other gardens through the Humayun’s Tomb Site Museum, which began construction on 7 April 2015.

Read our blog post on the Humayun's Tomb Site Museum here.

Book captures nuances of Malay culture and heritage in Singapore

Source: Hidayah Amin.

Malay Weddings Don’t Cost $50 and Other Facts about Malay Culture published by Helang Books and supported by a National Heritage Board Heritage Participation Grant, was launched in October 2014.

The book has helped to bring more awareness about Malay heritage to the world. The collection of 42 articles about Malay culture and heritage, lifestyle and personas, customs and practices is wide-ranging and includes issues such as circumcision, wearing of the hijab (tudung), supernatural beings, the determination of virginity, and a discussion of an infamous ‘S$50-Malay-wedding’ remark that triggered a heated debate on racism in Singapore in October 2012.

Author Hidayah Amin is the CEO of Archipelago 
Consultancy, a Singapore-based consultancy providing research, heritage, education and creativity-related services. She was educated at the University of Cambridge and was a Fulbright 
Scholar at Lehigh University in the US. She was also a recipient of the Alpha Delta Kappa Foundation’s 
International Teacher Education Scholarship as well as the Tan Kah Kee Postgraduate Scholarship 2006.
 She also holds the distinction of being the first Malay Girl Guide to receive the President’s Guide Award.

The book (ISBN: 978-981-09-1051-8) is available at all major bookstores in Singapore and Malaysia, and online here. Books purchased online are autographed by Hidayah, and cost S$34 including postal charges. Overseas purchasers can get it for 35 Euro, 28 UK pounds or US$45.

Book on Emirati hospitality launched

Zaabeel Palace Hospitality has launched a book documenting the local heritage on the sidelines of the Dubai World Hospitality Championship (DWHC) which ended on November 1. 

Emirati Hospitality: Customs and Traditions reviews hospitality traditions in the Arabian Gulf, charting the different historic, cultural and geographic connections between the various Gulf states (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman). The first edition of the book is signed by HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Source: Zaabeel Palace Hospitality.

HE Ahmed bin Hareb, President of DWHC, said that UAE's traditions are usually passed down by word of mouth, but Emirati Hospitality: Customs and Traditions has managed to document these Emirati customs across different eras. "We hope that the book would achieve its goal in documenting the elements of Emirati hospitality through its texts, photographs, and illustrative and informative drawings," he said.

Emirati Hospitality: Customs and Traditions demonstrates the essence of Emirati Hospitality, from Bedouin-style welcomes, desert-influenced drinks, cooking instruments, to wedding clothes. The book is divided into three sections: Emirati hospitality, Emirati cuisine, and food ingredients. 

The first chapter describes customs that originate at a time when most families had very few belongings to enable them to prepare a generous meal. Nevertheless, these families managed to give their guests a very warm welcome and offer them all possible means of comfort, regardless of the social status or geographic location of the hosting Emirati family. 

Modern Emirati families reflect the balance between tradition and modernism. Many local houses now have a mabrez (majlis), a reception room equipped with traditional Emirati seating, where guests can relax and lean on tickee (pillows), and which has chairs and matareh (matresses).

The book assured that some customs and traditions still exist as before, such as the practice of serving coffee, fresh fuala and desserts at the beginning of each visit. Such customs are considered an essential element of local manners and a permanent symbol of Emirati hospitality. 

Neighbours, families and friends still exchange food dishes and drinks as presents, and rich families still donate food generously to mosques and charities, especially at Ramadhan. Public water fridges are a common sight in front of local homes to ease the thirst of passersby and workers on the street. These practices and other are vivid evidence to the traditional and generous Emirati hospitality realised in modern everyday life.

The book has a history of traditional perfumes. Sandalwood, rose, henna, saffron and musk are thousands of years old, and still part of life in the UAE and in other areas in the Arab Gulf. Aloes and frankincense are part of every social meeting. Women pass a tray of frankincense amongst them in their gatherings to perfume their guests when they leave.

Fuala demonstrate the originality and authenticity of Emirati hospitality. Fuala are a diversity of miniature plates that are given to guests when they arrive, and show that the guest is honoured. Before fridges, microwaves and Tupperware were invented, Emirati families used to warm food for a long period, so they can offer their guests a fresh warm fuala whenever they come.

Emirati Hospitality: Customs and Traditions focuses on the mabrez as the main element in Emirati hospitality. The mabrez is both a location and a social institution. It gives a chance to Emiratis to speak directly to their elders and sheikhs, and has contributed to reinforcing unity amongst the community by hosting public discussions for many generations.

In the current political system of the UAE, governors still open the doors of their majalis (plural for majlis) for the public. Emirati homes usually consist of two majalis, one for males and the other for females, and are able to host large numbers of guests. 

Traditional clothing is one of the most vivid external manifestations of Emirati culture and national identity. The clothing does not only reflect the principles of Islam through modesty, but are also a commitment to local heritage and national pride. The book includes stitching details and ancient embroidery.

The second chapter of  the book discusses Emirati culinary arts in the absence of modern technologies, such as electricity, flowing water, air conditioning and electronic appliances. In humble homes without an independent kitchen, women used to cook in their yards using charcoal ovens (tanur) and stoves. It was challenging in the heat and humidity of summer. Sometimes, food ingredients were absent from the market for weeks, or people could not afford them. Food used to be distributed amongst neighbors, families, friends, strangers, and to charity.

This chapter of the book includes traditional cooking equipment, traditional recipes, Emirati drinks and local commodities. The recipes include fokat laham, matban laham, jasheed, salouna laham, al maleh, fokat samak, khameer, and khanfaroush in addition to salads and desserts.

Fresh beverages are an integral part of local hospitality. Emirati coffee is offered all day long, in addition to some salty and sweet snacks. Popular hot drinks include sweetened tea, various types of flavoured milk and namlet, as well as herbs added for their health benefits. 

Amongst the most famous traditional juices is sharbat, from which the word 'sherbet' is derived. Commercially drinks Vimto, introduced in 1908, and Tang, launched in 1957 are highly popular, especially in Ramadhan. 

The section on food ingredients discusses staples that are easily stored and which last without refrigeration, essential attributes for food used by the nomadic ancestors.