Traditions and lifestyle: Shehhuh tribe of the Northern Emirates

The National
  • JT034-0417-EMIRATI WEDDING IMG_7057.JPG
    JT034-0417-EMIRATI WEDDING IMG_7057.JPG
  • Ras al Khaimah - Rashid Salim al Shehhi, centre, takes part in a drum circle during a wedding for members of the Shehhi tribe in the village of al Mahboobi in al Rams. Jeff Topping / The National
    Ras al Khaimah - Rashid Salim al Shehhi, centre, takes part in a drum circle during a wedding for members of the Shehhi tribe in the village of al Mahboobi in al Rams. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Ras al Khaimah - Men move in a circle while twirling or Razfa their canes during a traditional Arabic dance called the Razif at a wedding celebration for two grooms of the Shehhi tribe in the village of al Mahboobi in al Rams. Jeff Topping / The National
    Ras al Khaimah - Men move in a circle while twirling or Razfa their canes during a traditional Arabic dance called the Razif at a wedding celebration for two grooms of the Shehhi tribe in the village of al Mahboobi in al Rams. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Ras al Khaimah - Saif al Nar, left, (his name means sword of fire) began practicing the Nadbah at age six and is now a full Nadeeb (Nadbah caller) leading friends and elders in the Shehhuh war cry used as a greeting of peace. Jeff Topping / The National
    Ras al Khaimah - Saif al Nar, left, (his name means sword of fire) began practicing the Nadbah at age six and is now a full Nadeeb (Nadbah caller) leading friends and elders in the Shehhuh war cry used as a greeting of peace. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah - 82-year-old Ali Rashid Al Dhuhoori, at his place of work in the village of Wadi Shaam. Ali is the village headstone maker and each day he climbs his mountain to access the rock which he then cuts for the tombs. Randi Sokoloff / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah - 82-year-old Ali Rashid Al Dhuhoori, at his place of work in the village of Wadi Shaam. Ali is the village headstone maker and each day he climbs his mountain to access the rock which he then cuts for the tombs. Randi Sokoloff / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah - Brothers Mohammed Al Shehhi, left, and Abdulla Al Shehhi, perform the the The Mzafin (confrontation) during the sword dance at Khatt town. Jaime Puebla / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah - Brothers Mohammed Al Shehhi, left, and Abdulla Al Shehhi, perform the the The Mzafin (confrontation) during the sword dance at Khatt town. Jaime Puebla / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah - Mohammed Al Shehhi balances a sword on his hand Jaime Puebla / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah - Mohammed Al Shehhi balances a sword on his hand Jaime Puebla / The National
  • Fujairah - Rashid Al Hufayti (left) and Hassan Al Hufayti check inside the remains of a house of the WAMM village in Dibba. Jaime Puebla / The National
    Fujairah - Rashid Al Hufayti (left) and Hassan Al Hufayti check inside the remains of a house of the WAMM village in Dibba. Jaime Puebla / The National
  • Ras al Khaimah - Rashid Saeed in his home in the village of Janas in the Hajar Mountains Jeff Topping / The National
    Ras al Khaimah - Rashid Saeed in his home in the village of Janas in the Hajar Mountains Jeff Topping / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah - The house of Badriya Mohammed. Jaime Puebla / The National?
    Ras Al Khaimah - The house of Badriya Mohammed. Jaime Puebla / The National?
  • Ras al Khaimah - Waleed Bin Shaiban al Hebsi, left, and his brother Mana, unfurl a 40-meter UAE flag on Jebel Janas overlooking their father's home in Wadi Qada'a. Jeff Topping / The National
    Ras al Khaimah - Waleed Bin Shaiban al Hebsi, left, and his brother Mana, unfurl a 40-meter UAE flag on Jebel Janas overlooking their father's home in Wadi Qada'a. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah - Brothers, left to right, Ali, Saeed and Abdullah Al Qaishi with sweets and other foods to celebrate Eid with family and friends in the home near Rams. Jeff Topping / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah - Brothers, left to right, Ali, Saeed and Abdullah Al Qaishi with sweets and other foods to celebrate Eid with family and friends in the home near Rams. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah - Aisha Al Dabdoob, 74, is a traditional medicine woman, who is famous among her patients for being able to cure people with her songs. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah - Aisha Al Dabdoob, 74, is a traditional medicine woman, who is famous among her patients for being able to cure people with her songs. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Ras Al Khaimah - Brothers Mohammed Al Shehhi, left, and Abdulla Al Shehhi, perform the the The Mzafin (confrontation) during the sword dance at Khatt town. Jaime Puebla / The National
    Ras Al Khaimah - Brothers Mohammed Al Shehhi, left, and Abdulla Al Shehhi, perform the the The Mzafin (confrontation) during the sword dance at Khatt town. Jaime Puebla / The National
  • Ras al Khaimah, UAE - Mohammed Abdulla Amin, right, uses a hack saw to saw a pattern on an ax handle he is making while his father-in-law Charchambi Mohammed watches inside Amin's home. Mr. Amin has since died. Jeff Topping / The National
    Ras al Khaimah, UAE - Mohammed Abdulla Amin, right, uses a hack saw to saw a pattern on an ax handle he is making while his father-in-law Charchambi Mohammed watches inside Amin's home. Mr. Amin has since died. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Ras al Khaimah - A traditional Shehhuh ax made by Mohammed Abdulla Amin. Jeff Topping / The National
    Ras al Khaimah - A traditional Shehhuh ax made by Mohammed Abdulla Amin. Jeff Topping / The National
  • Ras al Khaimah - The village of Janas in the Hajar Mountains, residents say the village has been populated for almost 500 years. Jeff Topping / The National?
    Ras al Khaimah - The village of Janas in the Hajar Mountains, residents say the village has been populated for almost 500 years. Jeff Topping / The National?