Bedouin camp brings slice of desert life to Dubai Shopping Festival


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DUBAI // A small slice of the desert lies hidden away from the bustle of the Dubai Shopping Festival, among the concrete of Festival City.

The Bedouin Lifestyle Camp on Festival Promenade has a bit of everything – sand, camels and Emiratis weaving traditional clothing.

For the whole of the festival, until February 3, shoppers can sample the region's food, clothes, handicrafts and heritage, with local music and dancing each night.

The UAE section of the camp sits alongside those of Yemen, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Kenya and India.

Visitors are welcomed by falconers and, once inside, local women offer tea and traditional Emirati food.

"It shows them a glimpse of the history and heritage of the place and the continuity that transformed us into the modern, civilised place that we are today," said Adel Misbah, planning manager at Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, part of the Department of Economic Development.

Taha Al Musharafah, from the Jordanian section of the camp, says that traditionally the men focused on daily tasks such as herding livestock, building tents and hunting, while the women milked the animals and made cheese, laban and yogurt.

"They also have ingenious ways of cooking various dishes using the limited natural ingredients available in the harsh landscape the Bedouins inhabit," said Muaaz Al Maani, also from the Jordanian camp.

India's diverse landscapes and environment also include harsh desert.

Visitors can experience the life of that country's desert nomads.

"The lifestyle of Indian desert nomads does not differ much from the Bedouins of Arabia," said Mohan, from the Indian section.

"It is the circumstances and the environment that people live in which makes them adopt a particular lifestyle – such as making use of the animals around them, like the camels."

eharnan@thenational.ae

The specs

Engine: four-litre V6 and 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo

Transmission: six-speed and 10-speed

Power: 271 and 409 horsepower

Torque: 385 and 650Nm

Price: from Dh229,900 to Dh355,000

ORDER OF PLAY ON SHOW COURTS

Centre Court - 4pm (UAE)
Gael Monfils (15) v Kyle Edmund
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Magdalena Rybarikova
Dusan Lajovic v Roger Federer (3)

Court 1 - 4pm
Adam Pavlasek v Novak Djokovic (2)
Dominic Thiem (8) v Gilles Simon
Angelique Kerber (1) v Kirsten Flipkens

Court 2 - 2.30pm
Grigor Dimitrov (13) v Marcos Baghdatis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Christina McHale
Milos Raonic (6) v Mikhail Youzhny
Tsvetana Pironkova v Caroline Wozniacki (5)

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE%20HOLDOVERS
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Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

MATCH INFO

English Premiership semi-finals

Saracens 57
Wasps 33

Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5

'Nightmare Alley'

Director:Guillermo del Toro

Stars:Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara

Rating: 3/5

Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5

UNpaid bills:

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019

USA – $1.055 billion

Brazil – $143 million

Argentina – $52 million

Mexico – $36 million

Iran – $27 million

Israel – $18 million

Venezuela – $17 million

Korea – $10 million

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019

USA – $2.38 billion

Brazil – $287 million

Spain – $110 million

France – $103 million

Ukraine – $100 million

 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)

Bio

Born in Dibba, Sharjah in 1972.
He is the eldest among 11 brothers and sisters.
He was educated in Sharjah schools and is a graduate of UAE University in Al Ain.
He has written poetry for 30 years and has had work published in local newspapers.
He likes all kinds of adventure movies that relate to his work.
His dream is a safe and preserved environment for all humankind. 
His favourite book is The Quran, and 'Maze of Innovation and Creativity', written by his brother.

What is 'Soft Power'?

Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. 
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength. 
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. 
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.

Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
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