Clothing

Emirians wear traditional Arab clothing. For men, this consists of an ankle-length robe called a dishdasha or kandura. The dishdasha is often made of white or off-white cotton cloth, and sometimes in a dark color. A large piece of cloth, called a ghutra, is worn on the head, held in place with a piece of woven rope called an ‘aqal, which is a thick black circular band made of twisted wool. On formal occasions, a bisht, a full-length c cloak embroidered with a golden thread edge, is worn on top of the dishdasha. Women’s fashions vary and a traditional UAE woman’s costume is the ‘abaya, a full-length, black cloak-like garment that covers her from head to tow when she is in a public place.

Food

The Emirian cuisine includes a variety of dishes that are prepared and served on various occasions. Rice, meat, and fish are staple foods. They are cooked in various ways in varying combinations. Spices are an essential part of the Emirian cuisine. Among the most commonly used spices are coriander, cardamom, saffron, and turmeric.

A favorite dish in the UAE as well as in other Gulf countries is a machbous, or rice and meat seasoned with spices, onions, tomatoes, and dried lemon. During Ramadan, the month of fasting, harees is usually served.  Harees is a dish consisting of small pieces of shredded meat with wheat and water, mixed together and thoroughly beaten over and over again to the consistency of porridge. Favorite desserts include al-halwa, a sweet made from sugar, eggs, starch, water and oil; al-Jibeet,  a sweet made from date syrup and sesame seeds; and Kul Wiskut, a dessert made from a mixture of peanuts and sugar.

Coffee and tea are the most popular beverages and are often mixed with spices, coffee with cardamom and tea with saffron or mint.

Cultural Heritage

The only native Emirian artistic traditions are those passed down from the Bedu (or Bedouin) nomads.  These include traditional Arabi music, storytelling, traditional dances, and the strong passion for poetry. Traditional Emirian music is characterized by a marked drumbeat accompanied by the sounds of various percussion and stringed instruments. The tubool , or drums, which come in various sizes, are beaten with a stick or with the fingers. The oud, a popular instrument, is an ancient stringed instrument that is the ancestor of the European lute. The percussion instruments include the soft sad tone of the Arabian flute or nai, and the mizmar, a long open-ended instrument which produces a loud, nasal sound. Another traditional instrument is the rebaba, , a one-stringed instrument.

A famous dance which marks the UAE traditions and costumes and is performed on almost every occasion is the ayyala. Men form two rows, shoulder to shoulder, facing each other at a distance. This is meant to resemble the scene of a battle, where one row represents the line of attack and the other row represents the cannons, reflecting the Arabs’ love of expressions of courage and chivalry.