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Cultural past of UAE comes alive with Heritage Surprises

DUBAI - Spectators at the Mall of the Emirates were treated yesterday to an evening of nostalgia while witnessing the rich Arabic cultural legacy of the UAE.

The special promotion marked the opening of the Heritage Surprises Week, organised by the Dubai Customs for Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) 2006.

The opening ceremonies recreated an ambience of the past, taking the audience centuries back to life in the desert. A traditional Arabic Beduin village, spread across an area of about 250 square metres within the mall premises, was built especially for the opening event and featured an Arabic cafe.

The audience was invited to be seated on stools during the show. Tea and other refreshments were served to showcase a genuine Arabic hospitality custom that the UAE has been known for.

The evening also featured a group of 100 villagers from Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, who still live in the desert away from modern life. They performed age-old traditional songs and dances to add to the aura of the olden days.

The Heritage Surprises Week will be held in various participating shoppping malls in Dubai until August 23 and attempts to promote, among tourists and residents alike, an awareness of the rich cultural heritage of the Emirates.