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Hazza: The tourist guide for Emiratis in Kazakhstan

Astana - Hazza is actually a Kazakh who dedicated three years for studying and working in the UAE until he learned to speak fluent Arabic.

Sporting the traditional Emirati Kandoora and Agal, 23-year-old Hazza is the manifestation of the Kazakhstan-UAE strong relations. 
Unlike the impression his name gives, Hazza is actually a Kazakh who dedicated three years for studying and working in the UAE until he learned to speak fluent Arabic.
Originally from Almaty, Hazza - whose real name is Azamat Al Matawi - is now a tour guide for Emirati tourists in Kazakhstan.
"Last summer, I opened a travel agency with my friends. We received over 300 groups of GCC nationals, and 99 per cent of them are Emiratis because they don't need visa to enter the country," said Hazza, a name given to him by his Emirati friends.
He studied Arabic and Middle Eastern studies in Almaty in 2011 and went on to practise the language at Al Qasimia University in Sharjah. 
"Arabic is the language of the Holy Quran and Hadith. It is the language of a strong and huge culture, which is why I chose to learn it," said Hazza.
He pointed out the similarities between the Kazakh and Emirati culture that prompted him to take the UAE as his area of interest.
"Like the UAE, we come from a Bedouin background. We like snipping and hunting with falcons," he said. And since Astana is a relatively modern city that was named as the capital of Kazakhstan only 20 years ago, Hazza advises tourists to visit Almaty, the country's largest city.
"Almaty is the city of nature, mountains, and rivers with big tourist attractions and I always advise tourists to visit," said Hazza.
He noted that while the country's economy is very rich, the tourism industry needs to be improved.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com