ABU DHABI // Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, led an impressive, exuberant parade into the walls of Qasr Al Hosn on Thursday to officially launch the festival honouring the birthplace of the capital.
Thousands had trooped into the historic fort for the start of the 10-day festival as dozens of traditional Yola dancers performed against the setting sun.
Sheikh Mohammed, also Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, had led the parade from Al Manhal Palace.
The march symbolised the Baniyas tribe’s journey from Liwa to Abu Dhabi where they built the historic fort in the 1700s. Part of the fort will open to visitors for the first time in years during the festival.
Butti Al Muhairi, spokesman for the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA) team that organised the event, said they were honoured to have Sheikh Mohammed visit the festival.
“Everyone’s happy. Everyone enjoyed it. Everyone remembered old times,” said Mr Al Muhairi.
The festival opened to select visitors only on Thursday. It will be open for women and children younger than 12 on Friday, then to the general public on Saturday.
The main attraction is the Cavalia at Qasr Al Hosn show, which has been adapted for the festival. Tickets start from Dh250 for adults and Dh150 for children. Near the Marine section of the festival’s four main areas was a manmade pond, with old-fashioned boats docked and volunteers making nets and reminiscing on its shores.
One of them was Salem Al Suri, 56, who said he had learnt to make nets over the past 40 years, taught by his father and grandfathers in Ras Al Khaimah.
Nearby, another volunteer told of how he used to free-dive as deep to 35 metres to search for pearls, telling his story while tying together a fishing net using his feet.
He said he could hold his breath for as long as four minutes on a single dive.
Another booth set up by the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi demonstrated old pearling techniques and tools, such as nose plugs made from turtle and goat bone, and leather finger gloves to protect the hands while searching through rocks.
A specialist taught new techniques for pearl aquaculture, showing visitors how to insert a nucleus inside an oyster to stimulate the growth of a pearl.
University students, called “festival ambassadors”, were present to explain the process to visitors and were stationed throughout the festival grounds.
Across the walkway, five eagles perched where Al Ain Zoo had set up the area for its bird show.
Faisal Al Hammadi, supervisor of bird training at the zoo, said he brought four different breeds – two steppe eagles, a short-toed eagle, a white-tailed sea eagle and a golden eagle, which he said is the most powerful type in the UAE.
“These birds are our stars at the zoo,” Mr Al Hammadi said.
The zoo also brought five falcons in a show to celebrate the birds’ role in Emirati culture and the desert tradition. Their trainers will also educate visitors about the wildlife conservation.
The tradition came to the Arabian Gulf from Mongolia in the sixth century, said Mr Al Hammadi, who has worked with birds for 15 years. Eagles, not falcons, were originally used.
“But the Arabic countries took it to hunt for food and to have fun,” he said.
Mr Al Hammadi said falconry not only provided food, but also taught respect for animals and humans.
“In the past, these are very important for food and to teach young people how they can be patient and deal with animals,” he said, adding that it took time to teach a bird how to hunt.
“This will teach young people how they can be patient and wait to get what he want. This is the most important lesson from falconry.”
Walking through the other areas of the festival grounds – Oasis, Desert, and Abu Dhabi Island and the Fort – people sold handcrafts such as bags, perfume and incense.
The scents wafted through the air as traditional music and sounds of a bustling market played through speakers. Other stalls sold novelty items such as old radios and records or jars of locally made honey.
In the Cultural Foundation next to Qasr Al Hosn, a gahwa has been set up to represent a contemporary take on classic coffee. Workshops have been set up in the book centre, staffed by university volunteers and organised by TCA.
Fatima Ghazal, workshop officer at the TCA education department, described the different workshops available, among them perfume, incense and doll-making. In another area, volunteers will educate people about traditional dress.
At one station, visitors can make jewellery from burqas and burqas from jewellery.
“It’s really difficult to make a burqa,” Ms Ghazal said.
People can sign up to participate in the workshops for free at the festival information booths.
Volunteers are also teaching visitors about traditional Julfar pottery made in the UAE since the 11th century. The last piece was made in 1950 and shares its name with an early name for RAK.
The festival runs until March 1 and is open from 4pm to 11pm.
Lectures about Qasr Al Hosn will be given, including one called Qasr Al Hosn: The Oldest Political Symbol, on Saturday from 7pm to 8pm.
Tours of the fort are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to small groups in both Arabic and English, from 4.15pm to 10.30pm.
Other events at the festival include documentary screenings and performances of poetry and music.
This year is the second annual instalment of the festival.
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
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THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
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On sale: Available for preorder now
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.
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, second leg
Real Madrid (2) v Bayern Munich (1)
Where: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
When: 10.45pm, Tuesday
Watch Live: beIN Sports HD
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
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The%20specs
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Top 10 most polluted cities
- Bhiwadi, India
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- Hotan, China
- Delhi, India
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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
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
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.
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
ARSENAL IN 1977
Feb 05 Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland
Feb 12 Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal
Feb 15 Middlesbrough 3-0 Arsenal
Feb 19 Arsenal 2-3 West Ham
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Mar 23 Stoke 1-1 Arsenal
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Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
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The alternatives
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Company profile
Name: Tratok Portal
Founded: 2017
Based: UAE
Sector: Travel & tourism
Size: 36 employees
Funding: Privately funded
Temple numbers
Expected completion: 2022
Height: 24 meters
Ground floor banquet hall: 370 square metres to accommodate about 750 people
Ground floor multipurpose hall: 92 square metres for up to 200 people
First floor main Prayer Hall: 465 square metres to hold 1,500 people at a time
First floor terrace areas: 2,30 square metres
Temple will be spread over 6,900 square metres
Structure includes two basements, ground and first floor
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League quarter-final (first-leg score):
Juventus (1) v Ajax (1), Tuesday, 11pm UAE
Match will be shown on BeIN Sports
ENGLAND TEAM
England (15-1)
George Furbank; Jonny May, Manu Tuilagi, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Courtney Lawes; Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Joe Marler
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz, Ollie Devoto, Jonathan Joseph
pakistan Test squad
Azhar Ali (capt), Shan Masood, Abid Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Haris Sohail, Imran Khan, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Abbas, Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari