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Showcasing UAE’s culture, heritage

DUBAI - A bouquet of programmes highlighting various facets of Emirati culture and traditions are being showcased during this year’s Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF).

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), continuing its strong participation in the festival for the 17^th successive year, has lined up a wide range of programmes, said Khalid bin Gharib, Director of Hatta Heritage Village and Chairman of DSF-2012 Committee at DTCM. “The department has been utilising the DSF right from its inception to showcase emirate’s rich culture and traditions. This year also, our programmes have been designed to bring Emirati culture and traditions closer to people who resides and visits Dubai from different parts of the world,” he added.

Nasser Al Hashimi, Coordinator of DSF-2012 Programmes at DTCM, said the visitors will have a lot to explore and enjoy about the Emirati culture and traditions over the 32-day period. The programmes are being taken place from 5pm to 10pm each day of the DSF at the Heritage Village and Diving Village in Al Shindagha and in Hatta Heritage Village.

As many as 27 major activities will be conducted at the Al Shindagha heritage sites complex, while the Hatta Heritage Village is hosting more than a dozen entertainment activities highlighting various aspects of Emirati culture and traditions. Among the daily activities being held at Al Shindagha heritage sites complex are exhibitions on the craftworks of inmates from penal institutions, Bedouin handicrafts and mountain handicrafts.

There will be traditional Emirati souk in addition to falconry show, camel and horse riding, mock Hadeher and Bedouin wedding ceremonies, classic car shows, police dog show, sports bike show and traditional Emirati cooking displays.

There will also be a traditional boats display in addition to stage competition and Dubai International Art Centre exhibition and performance by traditional music bands. Visitors will be able to watch pearl search and enjoy the traditional Arabian hospitality.

At the Hatta Heritage Village, visitors will be able to watch Bedouin traditions, arts and crafts and hospitality.

There will be an opportunity to explore and enjoy the traditional Emirati food like breads and harees and a traditional kitchen offering biryani and majboos.

There will be displays of traditional games and music in addition to theatre shows and cultural competitions.

The Heritage and Diving Villages, located along the picturesque Dubai Creek promenade, has remained a big attraction for the residents and visitors of Dubai and the DSF-2012 events are expected to bring hordes of people from various nationalities to the popular sites.

The heritage sites in Shindagha comprise genuinely restored and fully equipped structures, representing traditional life in the UAE. The Hatta Heritage Village, situated 115km southeast of Dubai city in the heart of the rocky Hatta Mountains, provides visitors with a fascinating glimpse into Dubai’s historical past.