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Morocco magic at GV

DUBAI - What attracts visitors to the Moroccan pavilion at the Global Village is the enchanting traditional music of the country and what bowls them over is the dance performance by a group of traditional dancers flown in to entertain everyone from six to 60 years old visiting the pavilion.

After being pulled in by the song and dance performances held at a specially-constructed stage by the side of the pavilion now, it's the fragrance of Moroccan tea which compels visitors to try out the beverage being served at a café located in the centre of the pavilion.

As guests savour the hot tea, they also get a chance to enjoy the decor and design of the pavilion which showcases a rich Moroccan architecture.

Most of the visitors, especially those from European countries, are attracted by the Fawanees (decorated lamps) as the pavilion exhibits hundreds of them.

Hassan Abdullah, a salesman at one of the lamp outlets, says: “We have more than 60 different shapes and designs of lamps with nice and catchy colours. We have both old and new lamps. The traditional Fawanees (lamps) are made of coloured glass, iron, copper and some are even made of goats' skin. These are especially brought in from Morocco. The prices range between Dh30 and Dh1,800 and the lamps are available in different sizes."

A large variety of traditional clothes that attract all Arab and Western women alike are also sold at the pavilion.

Elham Al Rakraki who is exhibiting her designs of the Moroccan dresses at one of the stalls named Aroosat Fas, which means the Bride of Fas, informs that the dresses are called Al Gaftan.

“They come in modern and traditional designs. The traditional Gaftan dress has a hat while the modern Gaftan includes a belt on the waist. We use different kinds of high quality textiles and embroidery. Our European customers love the Moroccan lines in the dresses and we have many customers from different Arab countries also buying from us. The prices start from Dh500 and goes up to Dh2,500,” she says.

Bin Shaghroon, a salesman in an outlet selling traditional Gaftan for men, says that the traditional dresses are quite popular among men in the GCC countries.

“They are less expensive than the ladies Gaftan as the prices very between Dh100 and Dh350 and we have more than 15 designs of Gaftan which sell very fast therefore I have brought a huge stock as I know the demand is quite high here,” he informs.