• A herder Hamad Al Marri's camels respond instantly to his cries and gather behind him to walk together across the Saudi desert. All photos: AFP
    A herder Hamad Al Marri's camels respond instantly to his cries and gather behind him to walk together across the Saudi desert. All photos: AFP
  • This special mode of communication, known as Alheda'a, was inscribed last month on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage
    This special mode of communication, known as Alheda'a, was inscribed last month on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage
  • A skilled camel herder can use his voice alone to soothe an animal, make it kneel and even signal a change in direction as they trudge through the desert sands, said the UN cultural agency.
    A skilled camel herder can use his voice alone to soothe an animal, make it kneel and even signal a change in direction as they trudge through the desert sands, said the UN cultural agency.
  • The special language highlights the deep traditional connection between camels and inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. The bid for UNESCO listing was submitted jointly with Oman and the UAE
    The special language highlights the deep traditional connection between camels and inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. The bid for UNESCO listing was submitted jointly with Oman and the UAE
  • A Saudi camel herder leads his animals during the annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Rumah desert, northeast of the Saudi capital Riyadh, on January 10, 2023. - Some herders use a mode of communication with camels, known as Alheda'a which was recently inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, highlighting the deep traditional connection between camels and inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)
    A Saudi camel herder leads his animals during the annual King Abdulaziz Camel Festival in Rumah desert, northeast of the Saudi capital Riyadh, on January 10, 2023. - Some herders use a mode of communication with camels, known as Alheda'a which was recently inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage, highlighting the deep traditional connection between camels and inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. (Photo by Fayez Nureldine / AFP)
  • According to Unesco's description of the practice, the herders train camels to recognise the difference between right and left, to open their mouths when asked and to kneel down to be ridden
    According to Unesco's description of the practice, the herders train camels to recognise the difference between right and left, to open their mouths when asked and to kneel down to be ridden
  • Herders have been using the special mode of communication for centuries. Their children pick up the skill while accompanying adult family members on daily trips in the desert
    Herders have been using the special mode of communication for centuries. Their children pick up the skill while accompanying adult family members on daily trips in the desert
  • Saudi herder Mansour Al Qatula learned about Alheda'a by watching his father and grandfathers communicate with the camels
    Saudi herder Mansour Al Qatula learned about Alheda'a by watching his father and grandfathers communicate with the camels
  • 'We have inherited the care of camels for more than 200 years. Now my children love it, and they frequently ask to come here, and their voices are known as well,' Al Qatula said
    'We have inherited the care of camels for more than 200 years. Now my children love it, and they frequently ask to come here, and their voices are known as well,' Al Qatula said
  • Earlier this month, Al Qatula brought his camels to the seventh edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which aims to promote the camel as an essential component of Saudi heritage
    Earlier this month, Al Qatula brought his camels to the seventh edition of the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival, which aims to promote the camel as an essential component of Saudi heritage
  • Participants in the beauty contest competed for prizes totalling 350 million riyals ($93 million)
    Participants in the beauty contest competed for prizes totalling 350 million riyals ($93 million)
  • The dromedaries were judged on attributes including their lips, necks, humps and colouring
    The dromedaries were judged on attributes including their lips, necks, humps and colouring

Gulf

Saudi camel-whisperers use 'special language' to train herd - in pictures

The mode of communication has recently been listed by Unesco and helps to form a special bond between man and herd

The National

January 19, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Director: Paul Weitz
Stars: Kevin Hart
3/5 stars

Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.

The cost of Covid testing around the world

Egypt

Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists

Information can be found through VFS Global.

Jordan

Dh212

Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.

Cambodia

Dh478

Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.

Zanzibar

AED 295

Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.

Abu Dhabi

Dh85

Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.

UK

From Dh400

Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.

A Dog's Journey 

Directed by: Gail Mancuso

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott

3 out of 5 stars

Results

57kg quarter-finals

Zakaria Eljamari (UAE) beat Hamed Al Matari (YEM) by points 3-0.

60kg quarter-finals

Ibrahim Bilal (UAE) beat Hyan Aljmyah (SYR) RSC round 2.

63.5kg quarter-finals

Nouredine Samir (UAE) beat Shamlan A Othman (KUW) by points 3-0.

67kg quarter-finals

Mohammed Mardi (UAE) beat Ahmad Ondash (LBN) by points 2-1.

71kg quarter-finals

Ahmad Bahman (UAE) defeated Lalthasanga Lelhchhun (IND) by points 3-0.

Amine El Moatassime (UAE) beat Seyed Kaveh Safakhaneh (IRI) by points 3-0.

81kg quarter-finals

Ilyass Habibali (UAE) beat Ahmad Hilal (PLE) by points 3-0

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%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20Juice%20jacking%2C%20in%20the%20simplest%20terms%2C%20is%20using%20a%20rogue%20USB%20cable%20to%20access%20a%20device%20and%20compromise%20its%20contents%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20exploit%20is%20taken%20advantage%20of%20by%20the%20fact%20that%20the%20data%20stream%20and%20power%20supply%20pass%20through%20the%20same%20cable.%20The%20most%20common%20example%20is%20connecting%20a%20smartphone%20to%20a%20PC%20to%20both%20transfer%20data%20and%20charge%20the%20former%20at%20the%20same%20time%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20The%20term%20was%20first%20coined%20in%202011%20after%20researchers%20created%20a%20compromised%20charging%20kiosk%20to%20bring%20awareness%20to%20the%20exploit%3B%20when%20users%20plugged%20in%20their%20devices%2C%20they%20received%20a%20security%20warning%20and%20discovered%20that%20their%20phones%20had%20paired%20to%20the%20kiosk%2C%20according%20to%20US%20cybersecurity%20company%20Norton%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%E2%80%A2%20While%20juice%20jacking%20is%20a%20real%20threat%2C%20there%20have%20been%20no%20known%20widespread%20instances.%20Apple%20and%20Google%20have%20also%20added%20security%20layers%20to%20prevent%20this%20on%20the%20iOS%20and%20Android%20devices%2C%20respectively%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi

Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe

For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.

Golden Dallah

For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.

Al Mrzab Restaurant

For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.

Al Derwaza

For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup. 

Updated: January 19, 2023, 11:16 AM
Saudi Arabia