Arva Ahmed, left, and Fatima Salim Shuwaihi lead the #savourSHJ trail. Satish Kumar / The National
Arva Ahmed, left, and Fatima Salim Shuwaihi lead the #savourSHJ trail. Satish Kumar / The National

Heart of Sharjah food tour is brimming with memories and munchies



The Heart of Sharjah is a district full of contrasts. For old-timers, it is an area of the city – home to Shurooq, Al Shuwaihean and Al Mareija area – that is ageing gracefully with the help of the government’s 2025 cultural restoration project. For newcomers, the exposed original foundations of coral and seashells provide glimpses of 1950s UAE.

While the structured souqs are gradually taking shape where once a pleasant chaos of merchants’ stalls stood, it is still home to plenty of tales of Iranian traders, pearl-diving history and Indian food vendors.

But sniffing out these sweet stories and lingering aromatic food requires guides who can regale visitors with their own childhood and family memories.

That’s what Dubai-based food- tours company Frying Pan Adventures, in collaboration with a team from the government initiative Heart of Sharjah, is out to achieve with its limited-­edition #savourSHJ trail, will run on January 16 and 28.

Arva Ahmed, co-founder of the company, and Heart of Sharjah events head Fatima Al Shuwaihi – Al Shuwaihean area is named after her family – present the culture and traditions of Sharjah on a plate.

Food and nostalgia

“The tour is all about food of nostalgia,” says Ahmed during a preview. It begins in the Al Shurooq area, lined with the foundations of old houses that have been excavated and restored by the government.

“It’s how Fatima and I remember eating while growing up.”

Al Shuwaihi says: “It is also a delicate balance between old and new to attract people back here. And we aren’t just talking about fancy cafes, but also little Indian guys who opened up stalls and have expanded them into small cafeterias now.”

There are eight food stops on the tour, which lasts for almost four hours. They illustrate the sheer diversity of the emirate. Treats offered include brewed karak chai at a majlis; soft, fluffy pockets of Afghan bread stuffed with potatoes; deep-fried sambusa crushed with Chips Oman in samoon bread from an Indian cafeteria; an egg and tomato dish from a Syrian haunt that has become a popular stop for thespians before rehearsals; and roasted nakhay (baby chickpeas) from Iran.

Our stop at one of the tiny cafeterias in the old souq evokes a charming memory for Al Shuwaihi.

“This is one of the oldest cafeterias in the area,” says Al Shuwaihi.

The Emirati guide was born in the Heart of Sharjah’s Bait Al Serkal building that housed the 150-year-old Sarah Hosman Hospital, the first in the Emirate.

“When my family lived in this area, a Mr Ibrahim of the cafeteria used to carry a carton of sambusa in samoon bread on his head and walk around the neighbourhood selling it.”

Ahmed balances out these personal experiences by adding well-researched details about the origins of certain dishes and their introduction into modern Arab cuisine.

Another tour highlight is the Omani halwa factory, tucked in the heart of the 200-year-old Souq Al Arsah. Our group is not only treated to the caramelised sugar, nuts and saffron-laden Middle Eastern dessert, but we also get to take in the overpowering concoction of smells from the cardamom and ghee at the halwa workstation, too.

The trail also underscores how young Emiratis have revived an appetite for traditional local fare such as Maleh (salted fish) and the soda drink dubbed Namlet.

The name of the latter, we learn from Al Shuwaihi, stems from a cultural misunderstanding.

“In the olden days, the elderly people misunderstood the word lemonade as namlet and that’s how the name has come about,” she says

Step back in time

The tour is also a chance to examine the progress made by the Heart of Sharjah project, which began in 2010. We are taken to the Archaeological Findings Room, which displays the original foundations of the souq that were unearthed after a radar survey of the area.

We are also invited to meet retired Emiratis, who recall colourful tales of their youth and the Emirate’s history over a game of cards and dominoes at the Majlis Al Shaabi.

Along with the Zam Zam textile market, the area is a treasure trove of everything from stylish abayas to 180-year-old pots.

We also check out some of the souq shops that have stood the test of time and appeal to a younger crowd, thanks to a facelift that includes sliding glass doors and sturdier metal fixtures.

It is this seamless blend of the old and new that makes the #savourSHJ trail so compelling. Stories proudly blended with history have carved a space in today’s modern environment – it is a small yet fitting tribute to what Sharjah was and is still all about.

The #savourSHJ trail runs on January 16 and 28 from 10am in the Heart of Sharjah. The tour costs Dh299, inclusive of refreshments. Participants will be given discounts on the Careem cab service. For details, visit www.fryingpanadventures.com/sharjah​

aahmed@thenational.ae

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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

Vidaamuyarchi

Director: Magizh Thirumeni

Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra

Rating: 4/5

 

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Cryopreservation: A timeline
  1. Keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic
  2. Ovarian tissue surgically removed
  3. Tissue processed in a high-tech facility
  4. Tissue re-implanted at a time of the patient’s choosing
  5. Full hormone production regained within 4-6 months
German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

BIO

Favourite holiday destination: Turkey - because the government look after animals so well there.

Favourite film: I love scary movies. I have so many favourites but The Ring stands out.

Favourite book: The Lord of the Rings. I didn’t like the movies but I loved the books.

Favourite colour: Black.

Favourite music: Hard rock. I actually also perform as a rock DJ in Dubai.

Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
THE BIO

Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979

Education: UAE University, Al Ain

Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6

Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma

Favourite book: Science and geology

Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC

Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.

Biography

Favourite drink: Must have karak chai and Chinese tea every day

Favourite non-Chinese food: Arabic sweets and Indian puri, small round bread of wheat flour

Favourite Chinese dish: Spicy boiled fish or anything cooked by her mother because of its flavour

Best vacation: Returning home to China

Music interests: Enjoys playing the zheng, a string musical instrument

Enjoys reading: Chinese novels, romantic comedies, reading up on business trends, government policy changes

Favourite book: Chairman Mao Zedong’s poems

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Paatal Lok season two

Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy 

Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

Rating: 4.5/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
Number of employees: 4
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Leaderboard

64 - Gavin Green (MAL), Graeme McDowell (NIR)

65 - Henrik Stenson (SWE), Sebastian Soderberg (SWE), Adri Arnaus (ESP), Victor Perez (FRA), Jhonattan Vegas (VEN)

66 - Phil Mickelson (USA), Tom Lewis (ENG), Andy Sullivan (ENG), Ross Fisher (ENG), Aaron Rai (ENG), Ryan Fox (NZL)

67 - Dustin Johnson (USA), Sebastian Garcia Rodriguez (ESP), Lucas Herbert (AUS), Francesco Laporta (ITA), Joost Luiten (NED), Soren Kjeldsen (DEN), Marcus Kinhult (SWE)

68 - Alexander Bjork (SWE), Matthieu Pavon (FRA), Adrian Meronk (POL), David Howell (ENG), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA), Fabrizio Zanotti (PAR), Sean Crocker (USA), Scott Hend (AUS), Justin Harding (RSA), Jazz Janewattananond (THA), Shubhankar Sharma (IND), Renato Paratore (ITA)

Results

3pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,000m; Winner: Dhafra, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer)

3.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Al Ajayib, Antonio Fresu, Eric Lemartinel

4pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Ashtr, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi, Majed Al Jahouri

4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Falcon Claws, Szczepan Mazur, Doug Watson

5pm: Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan Cup – Prestige Handicap (PA) Dh100,000 (D) 1,700m; Winner: Al Mufham SB, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Badar Al Hajri

5.30pm: Sharjah Marathon – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (D) 2,700m; Winner: Asraa Min Al Talqa, Al Moatasem Al Balushi, Helal Al Alawi