The natural cooling properties of the Lawsonia inermis, or the henna plant, made the paste extracted from its leaves an obvious choice for people living in the Middle Eastern and African desert and folk from the subcontinent braving Indian summers. The dye was typically applied on the palms and feet, with the cooling sensation lasting until the stain remained on the skin. Eventually, the paste was reworked into decorative patterns for aesthetic purposes, including by the original beauty buff Cleopatra. Henna is also used in the hair, to work as a natural air conditioner for the head, as well as to hide greying roots.
As the designs of the temporary tattoo became more and more elaborate, henna application became something of a profession, with many women training in the intricate art form. Flowers, birds, curlicues and butterflies are some common elements, although larger icons such as palanquins are also sometimes traced out.
In India, henna goes by the name mehendi, and forms a major part of wedding festivities, with the bride typically hiring two to four women to painstakingly apply the dye from elbow to fingertip and knee to toe. The husband’s name is often hidden within the intricate pattern for him to find later on. Although typically used by women, men have been known to tattoo the initials of their betrothed, too. Mehendi is also applied during the country’s major festivals, notably Diwali and Karva Chauth. The same goes for Arabic henna, which is applied during Eid festivities and other celebratory occasions. Rumour has it that the darker the stain, the more a person is adored.
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The temporary body art was adopted by people in the West in the 1990s, and has been spotted on celebrities such as Madonna, Yasmine Bleeth and Gwen Stefani. No longer restricted to the palms and feet, henna can take the forms of a bracelet cuff, arm band or back and stomach tattoo.
The intricate pattern has also inspired many art and design projects, including a massive mural ceiling at The St Regis in the Maldives and the façade of Namaste Towers in Mumbai.
Henna has had its share of controversies, too – from reports of spurious varieties that can cause alarming skin conditions to the total ban of black henna across the UAE.
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The specs
BMW M8 Competition Coupe
Engine 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
Power 625hp at 6,000rpm
Torque 750Nm from 1,800-5,800rpm
Gearbox Eight-speed paddleshift auto
Acceleration 0-100kph in 3.2 sec
Top speed 305kph
Fuel economy, combined 10.6L / 100km
Price from Dh700,000 (estimate)
On sale Jan/Feb 2020
MATCH INFO
Arsenal 1 (Aubameyang 12’) Liverpool 1 (Minamino 73’)
Arsenal win 5-4 on penalties
Man of the Match: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal)
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
The five pillars of Islam
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UAE WARRIORS RESULTS
Featherweight
Azouz Anwar (EGY) beat Marcelo Pontes (BRA)
TKO round 2
Catchweight 90kg
Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) beat Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)
Split points decision
Welterweight
Gimbat Ismailov (RUS) beat Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR)
TKO round 1
Flyweight (women)
Lucie Bertaud (FRA) beat Kelig Pinson (BEL)
Unanimous points decision
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) beat Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)
TKO round 1
Catchweight 100kg
Marc Vleiger (NED) beat Mohamed Ali (EGY)
Rear neck choke round 1
Featherweight
James Bishop (NZ) beat Mark Valerio (PHI)
TKO round 2
Welterweight
Abdelghani Saber (EGY) beat Gerson Carvalho (BRA)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) beat Igor Litoshik (BLR)
Unanimous points decision
Bantamweight
Fabio Mello (BRA) beat Mark Alcoba (PHI)
Unanimous points decision
Welterweight
Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magomedsultanov (RUS)
TKO round 1
Bantamweight
Trent Girdham (AUS) beat Jayson Margallo (PHI)
TKO round 3
Lightweight
Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) beat Roman Golovinov (UKR)
TKO round 1
Middleweight
Tarek Suleiman (SYR) beat Steve Kennedy (AUS)
Submission round 2
Lightweight
Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)
TKO round 2
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Name: Rain Management
Year started: 2017
Based: Bahrain
Employees: 100-120
Amount raised: $2.5m from BitMex Ventures and Blockwater. Another $6m raised from MEVP, Coinbase, Vision Ventures, CMT, Jimco and DIFC Fintech Fund
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Hotel Data Cloud profile
Date started: June 2016
Founders: Gregor Amon and Kevin Czok
Based: Dubai
Sector: Travel Tech
Size: 10 employees
Funding: $350,000 (Dh1.3 million)
Investors: five angel investors (undisclosed except for Amar Shubar)
