UAE Culture Sport
Table
of Contents
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Contents
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page
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Introduction
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3
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Camel Racing
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4
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Traditional boat racing
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5
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Falconry
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6
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conclusion
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9
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Introduction
The Arabs have engaged in sports for
over 2,000 years and the skills involved in the sport have been passed down
through the generations.``Camel racing’’,``Boat racing’’ and ``Falconry” are
the most popular sports in UAE.
Originally camel racing was only the
sport of the Bedouin, but it has grown in popularity.Races were originally held
in an informal setting, at weddings or festivals, but now there are 15 custom-built
racetracks in the UAE.The formation of the Camel Racing Association has
resulted in the highest standards of animal welfare and scrupulous ethics that
have become the benchmark for other countries.
The tradition of boats building in the
UAE is still thriving and although the enormous white sails have been replaced
by diesel engines, master boat builders still apply the skills developed over
centuries to fashion the familiar curved wooden shape. Originally used as
trading vessels, and as an essential part of the pearl-diving industry, boats
are still employed for transporting cargo but are also used to satisfy the
popular interest in boat racing.
In his book Falconry, HH the late
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan describes the main methods of capturing the
birds. Falconry depends on patience and partnership between bird and handler.
Camel Racing
The UAE is
historically known for its attachment to camels which are of social and
economic value in the region. The animal is famously known as the ship of the
desert because of its walk, which is much like the motion of a ship at sea.
Patience is one of its most observable features and camels are generally useful
animal.
Historically, camels
in the UAE were a dependable source of not only transport but also food and
milk. Arabs were proud of the number of camels they possessed. The camels were
given as a bride's dowry among the Bedouin tribes. Not to mention its use as
payment of Zakat — the annual portion of a Muslim's personal fortune that is
given as charity to people in need — as which was at times paid in camels
instead of money.
There are two types of camels. The dromedary, an Arabian camel, is a
large even-toed ungulate with has one hump while the Bactrian, also known as
Asian camel, has two humps. The dromedary camel is one of the best known types.
Other similar animals are the Llama and the Alpaca in South America.
In Arabic culture, a camel is assigned
a different name every year. For example, a one-year-old camel is called
‘Hewar' while a two-year-old camel is called ‘Fateem'. The name keeps changing
and the camel is known as ‘Haj' at three years of age.
The other names for the subsequent ages
are ‘Liggi' (four years old), ‘Yethea' (five years old) and ‘Thani' (six years
old). A male camel that is six years old can also be called ‘Baeer' while a
female camel of the same age can also be known as ‘Nagah'.
In earlier times, camels were used in
caravans and were loaded with various supplies such as food and dates, wood and
plants. During that time, camels roamed the deserts of the country. In summer
they were used to transport families from the humid coast to cooler oases.
However, the camel still has an
important role in UAE society, with many Bedouin families still owning a few
animals that provide milk and are sacrificed during festivals.
Camel skin is used locally to make
shoes, bags and water containers. Its wool, which is commonly considered of
high quality, was commonly used in the Arab world for tent and rug-making,
besides being fashioned into clothes.
Nowadays the camel is essentially used
for racing that is held annually during the winter months and based on the
selected breed of non-dairy camel. Camel racing is considered to be a very
popular activity among UAE community members.
Traditional
Boat Racing
Traditional boat-racing is one of the
most popular sports in the Gulf, especially in the UAE which has unique
traditions and customs that are distinguished from the nearby countries.
Sailing is still a strong tradition in the UAE.
People in the UAE used to sail for days and nights on the Arabian Gulf
and the Gulf of Oman. They used to dive for pearls. They used to go fishing.
As
a result of living on the Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman more than on the
land, they made something to amuse themselves. They thought of making
boat-racing competitions between themselves. Boat racing is deeply connected to
the psyche of Arab life, it is common in the months between October and April
because the weather is warm and nice at that time. The UAE has a fantastic
winter!
The Arab dhow is one of the most
graceful sailing craft that one could encounter anywhere. Traditional dhows do
not have motors . Dhows with huge
rigs are specially built for these exciting competitions. The races are held to
promote this heritage sport in a big way. In Dubai, Dhow sailing attracts
tourists along the Dubai Creek. During winter Dhow sailing competitions are
common along the Sir Bu Nuair Island.
In the traditional boat racing,
the boats are not as long as they were in the past, they create an amazing
picture as their tightly-packed crews labor at their oars, propelling their
svelte boats through calm inshore waters under the appreciative gaze of
spectators and fans.
Traditional sailing races are held
regularly from October to April. Majestic wooden dhows assemble
at the start line, evoking the customs and traditions of a bygone era.
Competition is intense and great attention is paid to the preparation of the
boats and their massive rigs. One major sailing event is the Mubarraz
Island marine sports festival, held in December and organized under the support
of Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh
Maktoum as part of their efforts to promote the country's marine sports
heritage. Eighty boats from all over the country participated in the 6 million
Dhs race held over a 55-nautical-mile (102 km)
course in 1998. It was decided that as from 1998 the number of nationals in
each boat would be 50 per cent, to be increased gradually to 100 per cent by
2001.
In my point of view, traditional boat
racing is a lovely simple sport. It makes the bodies of the competitors fit and
strong. It is an amusing sport at the same time.
Falconry
Falconry is considered one of the most
famous traditional sports in the UAE. It was created into a significant game
delighted in by the poor and the rich indistinguishable and was a necessary
piece of desert life rehearsed initially for handy reasons, such as
supplementing the meager diet of dates, milk, and bread.
Falconry is a conventional and
exceedingly esteemed custom in the UAE, reflecting the Bedouin adoration for this
game. The bird of prey itself, known as the "Saqr" is a bird that is
tremendously appreciated by Arabs in view of its entrancing magnificence,
carriage, sharp vision and loftiness.
Falconry or "al qanas" is a
favorite activity of H. H. Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan as it is called in
the local dialect. H. H. Sheikh Zayed said falconry is a sport that teaches
endurance, strength, and patience. Because of the fame of this sport, the UAE's
falconers are well known for having created particular methods and techniques
for catching and preparing hawks in availability for the chasing season.
The two fundamental species utilized
for chasing as a part of the UAE are the "Saqr" hawks, which are
transported in from other Middle Eastern nations and the Peregrine. The Saqr is
the most prevalent since it is appropriate for desert selling.
Training falcons requires both
fearlessness and persistence and it is an operation that is completed by the
"Saqr" or the coach. The capacity of a predator to be tamed and made
to comply with the call of its ace is a puzzle of nature that adds interest to
falconry for Arabs.
Through the training process, the bird
sits on a round wooden mushroom formed mobile square (Al Wakr) or on the
coach's hand, which is ensured from the sharp claws by a barrel shaped secured
sleeve called the "Manqalah". This is typically produced using
material loaded down with either straw or fabric, on which the bird of prey
roosts.
Falcon restraining is an important
matter, particularly in the wake of making a get. Light solid ties are fitted
to its lower legs. These instruments are known as the "Subuq" and are
30 centimeters in length, solid, adaptable ropes made basically out of nylon.
The two ends of the lines are entwined into a shorter rope, which is then
connected to a swivel. The swivel and lines give adaptability of development to
the hawk, while controlling it from flying. The entire piece is known as the
"Mursel".
As soon as the first falconer's shout
"Yalla" and in a split second, the falcon with full power yet regal
grace, flaps its large wings for a powerful take off into the sky. As soon as
it sees the prey, an enticing chase takes place, climaxing more than once as
the prey escapes by a hair's width. This chase lasts for a while until the prey
slows down and at that moment, the falcon swoops down and pulls it to the
ground.
The major falcon’s prey is: Houbara or
Macqueen's bustard, Stone Curlew (Karawan), and Hare (Arnab). The Houbara is an
effective fledgling that can weigh up to four kilograms (nine pounds) and
remained as much as 75 centimeters tall (30 inches) and it is known for its
extraordinary pace both in flight and ashore, a gimmick which makes the way of
the pursuit additionally energizing for the falconers.
His Highness Sheikh Zayed is considered
to be an expert in the falconry sport that he has been practicing since he was
a young man. He has a famous book "Hunting with Falcons", which is is
considered to be an encyclopedia on the art of falconry.
Falconry is controlled by law and falcons
are come back to the wild toward the end of the yearly chasing season, having
been set in detachment at the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, where they are given
full medical check-ups to guarantee that just totally birds enter the wild
populace. Each falcon is also micro-chipped for ease of identification.
Conclusion
The United Arab Emirates is home to a
rich cultural heritage that has been strongly influenced by the
resourcefulness of its people who exploited the harsh environment of the
region. This resilience, in the face of extreme hardship, was supported by
society’s tribal structure, which has bound peoples together since successive
waves of migration, beginning over 2,500 years ago, brought Arab tribes to the
region. The varied terrain that these peoples inhabited, i.e. desert, oasis,
mountains and coast, dictated the traditional lifestyles that evolved over the
centuries. Under an age-old social structure each family was traditionally
bound by obligations of mutual assistance to his immediate relatives and to the
tribe as a whole. Among the tribe an individual's selfless hospitality was the
source of his honour and pride.
I am proud to be Emirati as the UAE has
a great customs and traditions like traditional food, games, dances,
handicrafts and music. That gave me a deep sense of pride in my heritage. I am
proud that the UAE is today a wealthy and modern nation but I believe that its
our folk traditions and customs that express the true character and history of
the nation.
Like almost all young people I am eager
to learn more about the history and traditions of my country as the late H.H.
Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan has taught us” the real wealth of the country
is its youth and their understanding of the past”. This understanding of the
past helps our youth live and enjoy the present through its details and overcome
any obstacle they may face in the future.
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