Henna rituals and practices, Nabulsi soap from Palestine and roses from Saudi Arabia are among the cultural heritage practices added to Unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.
Established in 2008, the lists aim to ensure better protection of cultural heritage and to promote their significance. This year's list is being compiled at a general session taking place in Paraguay until Saturday.
Intangible Cultural Heritages are divided into several lists, including the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which encompasses the practices and expressions of communities, and the Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding, which last year included Syria's glassblowing practice.
Here are the cultural heritage practices from the region that have been added.
1. Henna rituals, aesthetics and social practices
The UAE is one of 16 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Palestine, which submitted traditional henna-making practices to be added to the list. As part of the joint submission, the Permanent Delegation of the UAE to Unesco produced a video shot in Al Ain featuring an Emirati woman discussing the importance of the craft as part of their submission.
The written component of the submission also highlighted the social role henna plays in the region. “What makes henna a distinctive element in the heritage of the participating countries is its transmission throughout successive generations as well as the broad community participation in its rituals and traditions, which creates an atmosphere of festivities and joy for both men and women," it read.
2. Tradition of Nabulsi soapmaking in Palestine
The submission by Palestine's Ministry of Culture described the tradition of Nabulsi soapmaking as an integral part of its cultural heritage and widely practised by its diaspora. Dating back more than 1,000 years and named after the Palestinian city, the soap is made from olive oil, water and lye.
“Making Nabulsi soap at home represents a cultural value in itself because it is associated with good management of a house that contains all the necessities including food, water, and cleaning materials,” read the submission. "The use of olive oil reflects people’s strong relation to the land, and the traditional Nabulsi soap making provides a good income for the families.
“Making Nabulsi soap at home encourages families to share. In the community, people use their homemade Nabulsi soap as a personal gift for celebrations. The element encourages dialogue and identity and connects both family members and the community concerned.”
3. Taif roses from Saudi Arabia
The Taif region of Saudi Arabia is known for its rich history, culture and agricultural productivity, as well as its roses.
In March, when the harvest season begins in the Makkah province, farmers and their families meticulously pick and collect roses in the early morning and transport them to the local markets to be sold or to their own houses to be distilled. The roses are then used for rose water, essential oil in beauty products, traditional medicine, food and drinks. They are also used to perfume mosques and are also presented as gifts.
4. Aleppo Ghar soap from Syria
Aleppo ghar or oil soap is crafted using a unique composition sourced from locally produced olive and laurel oil. In this collaborative, intergenerational process, all the ingredients are picked, cooked and poured on the floors of traditional soap factories. Once this fragrant mixture cools, craftsmen wear large wooden shoes and using their body weight cut the slab into cubes.
These bars of soap are then hand-stamped with the family name. Aleppo soap has a rich history dating back more than 5,000 years, making it one of the oldest soaps on Earth.
5. The Twayef of Ghbonten in Tunisia
Twayef are troupes of poet singers affiliated with the Ghbonten tribe in Tunisia. They have been present in the region since at least the 17th century, with their artistic traditions and practices evolving over time. The Tawyef perform chants or songs wearing white robes and scarlet caps known as chechias and often use a traditional drum called a chenna.
Each troupe consists of only males and a leader. Songs, ranging from sacred to secular, are performed on multiple occasions.
6. Women’s ceremonial costume of Algeria
In Algeria, the Gandoura and Melehfa are traditional attires worn by women for festive occasions such as weddings or national and religious celebrations. These costumes are not only representative of the traditions of the culture but also reaffirm and reinforce social ties to the community.
The knowledge and skills associated with weaving and adding adornments to the Gandoura and the Melehfa are practised within families where skills are passed on through generations, as well as in garment workshops, which helps promote sustainable development through handicrafts.
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
The five types of long-term residential visas
Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:
Investors:
A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.
Entrepreneurs:
A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.
Specialists
Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.
Outstanding students:
A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university.
Retirees:
Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
BIGGEST CYBER SECURITY INCIDENTS IN RECENT TIMES
SolarWinds supply chain attack: Came to light in December 2020 but had taken root for several months, compromising major tech companies, governments and its entities
Microsoft Exchange server exploitation: March 2021; attackers used a vulnerability to steal emails
Kaseya attack: July 2021; ransomware hit perpetrated REvil, resulting in severe downtime for more than 1,000 companies
Log4j breach: December 2021; attackers exploited the Java-written code to inflitrate businesses and governments
Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule
12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)
2pm Formula One final practice
5pm Formula One qualifying
6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
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LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
- Rational thinking: Breathe and avoid emotional decision-making; let logic and planning guide your actions.
- Strategic patience: Understand why you’re investing and allow time for your strategies to unfold.
The Africa Institute 101
Housed on the same site as the original Africa Hall, which first hosted an Arab-African Symposium in 1976, the newly renovated building will be home to a think tank and postgraduate studies hub (it will offer master’s and PhD programmes). The centre will focus on both the historical and contemporary links between Africa and the Gulf, and will serve as a meeting place for conferences, symposia, lectures, film screenings, plays, musical performances and more. In fact, today it is hosting a symposium – 5-plus-1: Rethinking Abstraction that will look at the six decades of Frank Bowling’s career, as well as those of his contemporaries that invested social, cultural and personal meaning into abstraction.
What is cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying or online bullying could take many forms such as sending unkind or rude messages to someone, socially isolating people from groups, sharing embarrassing pictures of them, or spreading rumors about them.
Cyberbullying can take place on various platforms such as messages, on social media, on group chats, or games.
Parents should watch out for behavioural changes in their children.
When children are being bullied they they may be feel embarrassed and isolated, so parents should watch out for signs of signs of depression and anxiety
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
The Bio
Name: Lynn Davison
Profession: History teacher at Al Yasmina Academy, Abu Dhabi
Children: She has one son, Casey, 28
Hometown: Pontefract, West Yorkshire in the UK
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite Author: CJ Sansom
Favourite holiday destination: Bali
Favourite food: A Sunday roast
FIXTURES
Nov 04-05: v Western Australia XI, Perth
Nov 08-11: v Cricket Australia XI, Adelaide
Nov 15-18 v Cricket Australia XI, Townsville (d/n)
Nov 23-27: 1ST TEST v AUSTRALIA, Brisbane
Dec 02-06: 2ND TEST v AUSTRALIA, Adelaide (d/n)
Dec 09-10: v Cricket Australia XI, Perth
Dec 14-18: 3RD TEST v AUSTRALIA, Perth
Dec 26-30 4TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Melbourne
Jan 04-08: 5TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Sydney
Note: d/n = day/night
Anxiety and work stress major factors
Anxiety, work stress and social isolation are all factors in the recogised rise in mental health problems.
A study UAE Ministry of Health researchers published in the summer also cited struggles with weight and illnesses as major contributors.
Its authors analysed a dozen separate UAE studies between 2007 and 2017. Prevalence was often higher in university students, women and in people on low incomes.
One showed 28 per cent of female students at a Dubai university reported symptoms linked to depression. Another in Al Ain found 22.2 per cent of students had depressive symptoms - five times the global average.
It said the country has made strides to address mental health problems but said: “Our review highlights the overall prevalence of depressive symptoms and depression, which may long have been overlooked."
Prof Samir Al Adawi, of the department of behavioural medicine at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman, who was not involved in the study but is a recognised expert in the Gulf, said how mental health is discussed varies significantly between cultures and nationalities.
“The problem we have in the Gulf is the cross-cultural differences and how people articulate emotional distress," said Prof Al Adawi.
“Someone will say that I have physical complaints rather than emotional complaints. This is the major problem with any discussion around depression."
Daniel Bardsley
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
