Seven cultural traditions spanning 13 Arab nations have been added to Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.
They include dabke, the Palestinian version of the popular Levantine dance; and harees, the wheat grain and meat dish popular in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman.
The seven traditions were among 20 newly inscribed on Tuesday at an event in Botswana.
Unesco’s Intangible Cultural Heritage category is divided into separate lists, including In Need of Urgent Safeguarding and the broader Humanity list. Syria's glassblowing practice has been termed one "in need of urgent safeguarding".
Established in 2008, the Unesco list aims to ensure better protection of the cultural heritages and to promote their significance.
“We have come together to celebrate the incredible richness of humanity’s intangible cultural heritage, and to reaffirm its power for social cohesion, human dignity and peace,” said Ernesto Ottone, assistant director general for culture at Unesco, at the event, which marks the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. It will run until Saturday.
“This session of the committee takes place under the overall umbrella of the 20th anniversary of the 2003 Convention, and therefore each item offers us an opportunity to reflect on all that has been achieved in the past 20 years, and all that still remains to be pursued.”
Here are the seven newly inscribed cultural heritage practices from the Arab world.
Traditional Syrian glassblowing
Exercised mostly in Damascus, traditional Syrian glassblowing is the artisanal craft of creating glass objects from pieces of waste glass using a handmade brick oven. A source of livelihood for artisans, the glassworks are characterised by white, blue, green and crimson colours which include gold motifs and cultural symbols.
"Today, the related knowledge and skills are passed down informally through hands-on practice and instruction in workshops," Unesco says on its website.
"Damascene glassblowing contributes to a sense of continuity and belonging. It is also associated with social, spiritual and historical spaces and with the practices that take place therein."
The practice has been added to the In Need of Urgent Safeguarding list.
Palestinian version of dabke
The dabke has been added to the Humanity list.
Palestine’s version of the traditional Levantine group dance, it is often accompanied by wind instruments and singing. It is considered a form of expressing cultural identity and is often practised while celebrating family occasions and in festivals and is considered a dance that increases social ties.
"Most Palestinians know the dabke dance and practice it as a means of sharing their joy with family, friends and neighbours," Unesco says. "The lyrics of the accompanying folk songs are in local dialects and express emotions related to the occasion, such as courage, strength and love."
Al-Molid procession
Known as the Al-Molid procession, the parade celebrating the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday takes place in Sudan in the third month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It includes participants performing religious songs and ritual dances; reciting Sufi prayers and sharing food from all across the country.
The procession has been added to the Humanity list.
Harees dish from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman
Made from wheat grain, meat and ghee, this popular traditional dish is usually eaten at breakfast and dinner. Harees is popular during Ramadan, and informally promotes social connections and cultural affinity. The dish, and the techniques required to make it, has been added to the Humanity list.
"In the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia, harees is present in many social and cultural elements such as folk stories, sayings and poetry," Unesco says.
"The related skills and knowledge are passed on from mothers to daughters. Preparing and serving harees is viewed as a sign of hospitality and generosity. A means of promoting social connection, the practice strengthens bonds between people and communities while enhancing cultural affinity in the societies concerned."
Arts, skills and practices associated with engraving on metals
Also added to the Humanity list is the skill of engraving on metals such as gold, silver and copper. Prominent in the likes of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Egypt, the practice involves taking decorative, utilitarian, religious or ceremonial objects and manually cutting words, symbols or geometric patterns into their surfaces.
Al-Mudhif craftsmanship in Iraq
The large arched buildings known as Al-Mudhif in Iraq are made of reed and papyrus, which grows naturally in the marshes in the south of the country.
They are built by skilled workers, managed by tribal sheikhs, but maintained by the entire community. Al-Mudhif serve as a space for the community to gather and transmit traditional knowledge and customs.
"Al-Mudhif is also viewed as a space for transmitting traditional knowledge, values, handicraft skills, norms and customs to children and youth. It is a place to welcome visitors and guests from within and outside of Iraq," Unesco says. The craftsmanship required to build the structures has been added to the Humanity list.
Man’ouche from Lebanon
The flatbread from Lebanon is prepared in homes and specialised bakeries. The culinary practice has been added to the Humanity list.
It is often eaten for breakfast by people of all backgrounds and its sale in small bakeries contributes to local economic development. Man’ouche, often also spelt manoushe, has become synonymous with Lebanon. It is also sold in other regions or countries with a strong Lebanese community.
"The techniques of preparing man’ouche and its toppings are usually transmitted informally from parents to children," Unesco says. "The aroma of man’ouche is a strong identifying factor that evokes traditional morning gatherings."
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What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
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What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
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Where to buy art books in the UAE
There are a number of speciality art bookshops in the UAE.
In Dubai, The Lighthouse at Dubai Design District has a wonderfully curated selection of art and design books. Alserkal Avenue runs a pop-up shop at their A4 space, and host the art-book fair Fully Booked during Art Week in March. The Third Line, also in Alserkal Avenue, has a strong book-publishing arm and sells copies at its gallery. Kinokuniya, at Dubai Mall, has some good offerings within its broad selection, and you never know what you will find at the House of Prose in Jumeirah. Finally, all of Gulf Photo Plus’s photo books are available for sale at their show.
In Abu Dhabi, Louvre Abu Dhabi has a beautiful selection of catalogues and art books, and Magrudy’s – across the Emirates, but particularly at their NYU Abu Dhabi site – has a great selection in art, fiction and cultural theory.
In Sharjah, the Sharjah Art Museum sells catalogues and art books at its museum shop, and the Sharjah Art Foundation has a bookshop that offers reads on art, theory and cultural history.
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Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
