Members of the Al Za’abi tribe gather daily in separate majlises to socialise and have fun. The men of the tribe first arrived in 1969 when the area now known as Al Za’ab was just desert.
Members of the Al Za’abi tribe gather daily in separate majlises to socialise and have fun. The men of the tribe first arrived in 1969 when the area now known as Al Za’ab was just desert.

The tribe that shares one heart



ABU DHABI // It's an idyllic, textbook image of a close-knit community, with people of all ages and occupations gathering outside to socialise and have fun.

The inhabitants of Al Za'ab say it has always been that way.

It takes just a brief foray into this residential hamlet opposite Sheikh Khalifa Medical City to feel as if you are part of the action.

On one block, two elderly men sit in a small outdoor majlis deep in conversation, steps away from a playground heaving with excitable children jumping and screaming.

A maid escorts two young ones dressed in matching clothes to their home, while behind them a teenager performs stunts on his quad bike.

Further along, 10 women dressed in abayas are holding their own outdoor majlis. Across the road a woman delivers a plate of food to her neighbour while a man performs exercises on a stretch of grass.

Al Za'ab was named after the Al Za'abi tribe, who arrived in the capital in 1969. They moved from Al Hamra Island in Ras Al Khaimah, which was also known as Al Za'ab.

The men were the first to arrive, with the rest of the tribe following in 1971 when Sheikh Zayed, founding President of the UAE, granted them the land and named it in their honour.

"Sheikh Zayed was very generous with them and visited them personally," says Obeid Al Za'abi, 58, who has lived in the area since he was 15.

"At first the tribe stayed in a special guest area and then he granted them Al Za'ab. The area was a desert back then so when the tribe moved they stayed in tents, but then Sheikh Zayed ordered the building of houses for each family."

Maryam Al Za'abi, 27, an engineer and mother of two, has lived in the area her entire life.

"I remember when I was 6 and my mother went to perform Haj, our neighbour Umm Khalid would pass by every day at noon to check on our needs," Maryam says. "She also took us Eid shopping to buy Eid items that our mother forgot to buy for us before she left. That is how people were with each other."

She describes the area as calm and cosy, where people "work in one hand and share one heart".

"For instance, if a man passes by and sees children playing, he takes them with him to the mosque to pray," Maryam says.

Men and women gather daily in separate majlises where they share food and socialise.

Al Za'ab was once populated exclusively by members of the tribe, but many have since moved elsewhere and rented out their houses, which has brought an influx of nationalities and backgrounds to the neighbourhood.

But while the tribe might not be quite as tightly knit as it once was, Mona Al Zaabi, 30, a programme officer at the Urban Planning Council who has lived her whole life with her family in Al Za'ab, says the younger generation has been making efforts to recapture the past.

Recently, the young men of the tribe gathered with their elders to carry out the tribe's traditional rezeef dance.

"It was a nice gesture," says Mona. "Za'abis are known by the rezeef."

@ For more in this series, go to thenational.ae/communityroots

RESULTS

ATP China Open
G Dimitrov (BUL x3) bt R Bautista Agut (ESP x5)
7-6, 4-6, 6-2
R Nadal (ESP x1) bt J Isner (USA x6)
6-4, 7-6

WTA China Open
S Halep (ROU x2) bt D Kasatkina (RUS)
6-2, 6-1
J Ostapenko (LAT x9) bt S Cirstea (ROU)
6-4, 6-4

ATP Japan Open
D Schwartzman (ARG x8) bt S Johnson (USA)
6-0, 7-5
D Goffin (BEL x4) bt R Gasquet (FRA)
7-5, 6-2
M Cilic (CRO x1) bt R Harrison (USA)
6-2, 6-0

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The Sand Castle

Director: Matty Brown

Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea

Rating: 2.5/5

The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ

Price, base: Dh1,731,672

Engine: 6.5-litre V12

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm

Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm

Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km

DUBAI SEVENS 2018 DRAW

Gulf Men’s League
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Bahrain, Dubai Sports City Eagles
Pool B – Jebel Ali Dragons, Abu Dhabi Saracens, Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Al Ain Amblers

Gulf Men’s Open
Pool A – Bahrain Firbolgs, Arabian Knights, Yalla Rugby, Muscat
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Gulf Women
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Gulf U19 Girls
Pool A – Dubai Exiles, BSAK, DESC, Al Maha
Pool B – Arabian Knights, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Crops that could be introduced to the UAE

1: Quinoa 

2. Bathua 

3. Amaranth 

4. Pearl and finger millet 

5. Sorghum

What can you do?

Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses

Seek professional advice from a legal expert

You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor

You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline

In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support

Name: Colm McLoughlin

Country: Galway, Ireland

Job: Executive vice chairman and chief executive of Dubai Duty Free

Favourite golf course: Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club

Favourite part of Dubai: Palm Jumeirah

 

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  • Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE

When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed 

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