A Look Into The Holy Month Of Ramadan
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What to expect during the Holy Month of Ramadan

Is the Abaya Cultural Or Religious?
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It can be both, so the answer is about intention. Firstly, lets define what you are seeing. The Abaya is the long cloak for ladies, commonly black and seen nationwide. It is worn when outside of our home to comfortably adhere to religious guidelines

Has Education Evolved In UAE?
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It is a never-ending cycle - our children are heading back to school. Education in the Emirates has always been valued and taken seriously, as was the teacher; who was always held in high esteem amongst the local community. In the past, study took

Life In The Past
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The heritage houses of Al-Fahidi, with their wind towers decorating the Bur Dubai skyline and their impressive interior courtyards, are a wonderment to explore. As you walk around the alleyways (sikka)

How To Cope With The Heat In UAE
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“It was never hot like this,” Ghudayer used to say. He believed the region got hotter when the cities were built as concrete absorbs heat. It was also likely due to once someone feels the coolness of air conditioning; the temperature previously

What Is It Like To Be At SMCCU In Ramadan?
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Every year for over twenty years The Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding hosts unique Ramadan Iftars in our historical, windtower houses in Al-Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood. Our team expands during this special month to include dozens

Why Is Coffee Important In UAE?
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The Emirati Coffee tradition; called Qahawa is a tradition from bean to refreshment served sip by sip in little handless cups. Our beans are only slightly roasted, over a fire, cardamom and saffron are added and the noise of the mortar and pestle

How Do You Keep Your Culture Alive?
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Keeping culture alive is a decision we make daily. To those that care, the coffee service is not about little cups and a tangy, light colored coffee. It is not in the way we fill and hand the little, round finyan. It is from unroasted bean

What Is The Year Of Tolerance?
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Each year the government selects a theme for the year in which all government departments, and the private sector try to support and connect with the public. 2018 was a very special year as The Year of Zayed, which marked 100 years since

What Are Emirati Women Wearing?
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These Emirati women are swathed head to toe in billowing, thin layers, but what are all of these pieces and why do they do it? The actual act of covering the hair and curves of the body is religious. How we do so, and with what is cultural,

November Is Punctuated By Which Two Holidays?
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Though December 2 is the UAE’s National Day, November brings an energy of patriotism, since the advent of Flag Day and Martyrs Day. Both special days are relatively new compared to other holidays and bring with them a renewed spirit and reminder

What Is It Like To Give Birth In UAE?
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Being pregnant and delivering a baby has always been a special occasion in the Emirates, as it is worldwide. Starting from pregnancy the mother is encouraged to have rest and eat healthy foods whenever possible, even during the trying times

What Is The Emirati Wedding & Married Life Like?
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The Emirati weddings for the Bedouin families were modest, yet generous gatherings popular with many. Guests were welcomed; many after traveling days - thus the standard three day of hosting turned into three days of parties.

How Do Emirati’s Find A Spouse?
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Though arranged marriages are still widely popular in the Emirates, many future couples handle the information gathering on a prospective life partner themselves, while they share their days at work or university.