Singing joyfully to the beating of drums, Syrians who fled to neighbouring Jordan from their country's civil war perform Arada dances to honour their culture and earn extra income.
Their performances, featuring traditional robes and whirling swords, have become increasingly popular for occasions such as weddings and parties.
"They add an atmosphere of joy to our celebration," said Fahed Shehadeh, who hired the Bab Al Hara dance troupe in Amman to mark his sons graduating from university.
"I am Jordanian but of Syrian origin, and I brought the group because I admire their dancing skills, music, clothes and their songs," said Mr Shehadeh.
The popularity of Arada — rooted in the Arabic for "performance" — has had its songs modified to fit various celebrations.
A troupe typically comprises 10 to 20 dancers who wear loose-fitting black trousers, white cotton shirts, embroidered vests, white skullcaps and a shawl wrapped around the waist.
They carry swords and decorative shields, and the dance culminates in the performers spinning their blades in the air before engaging in ceremonial fighting.
Troupe leader Moutaz Boulad, 60, said Arada had grown in popularity in Amman, with daily events in the summer months and several engagements each week in winter.
Mr Boulad, who left Syria in 1988, says the shows have become an important means to earn cash for some of those who fled the war that erupted in 2011.
"Some of the dancers were not good when they first came to us, but they learned from my sons and I in order to improve their financial situation," he said.
Syria's war is estimated to have killed nearly half a million people and displaced millions; more than 6.6 million fled to neighbouring Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon.
Jordan hosts almost 650,000 Syrians registered with the United Nations, but Amman estimates close to 1.3 million Syrians have arrived since 2011.
The UN said close to 80 per cent of Syrians in Jordan live below the national poverty line, surviving on $3 per day or less.
Mr Boulad said his dancers came from various professional backgrounds.
"Most dancers have different jobs beside the Arada," he said. "Some are university students, accountants, restaurant workers, tailors and electricians — but this is something that gives an amount of money to help cope with life."
For dancers like Ahmed Abu Shadi, 43, who fled Syria in 2013 and works as a plumber, performing the Arada helps him raise his three children.
For Arada, they pay me 15 dinars every time I go out to dance. Although it is a small amount, it helps in my life
Ahmed Abu Shadi,
Syrian refugee
"With plumbing there are days when I work, and days with no customers," he said. "For Arada, they pay me 15 dinars [$20] every time I go out to dance. Although it is a small amount, it helps in my life."
Another member, who works in a medical laboratory and asked for his name to be withheld, fled the Syrian city of Homs in 2018.
The dancing adds about $300 each month to his $700 salary to help support his family while they wait for their asylum applications to be processed through the UN refugee agency.
"I have applied for asylum through the UNHCR and hope we can start a new life abroad," he said.
Despite displacement and financial challenges, dancing the Arada remains a key part of Ahmed Abu Shadi's life.
"This dance is a very important part of our Syrian identity, heritage, culture and our daily life — we must preserve and teach it to our children and grandchildren," he said.
"This art is in my blood, I love it, I can't imagine myself, my life without this."
He dreams of one day dancing again on his home soil.
"I will continue to dance wherever I go," he said.
"But of course, I prefer that the situation improves one day so that we can all return to our country, Syria."
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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if you go
The flights
Emirates offer flights to Buenos Aires from Dubai, via Rio De Janeiro from around Dh6,300. emirates.com
Seeing the games
Tangol sell experiences across South America and generally have good access to tickets for most of the big teams in Buenos Aires: Boca Juniors, River Plate, and Independiente. Prices from Dh550 and include pick up and drop off from your hotel in the city. tangol.com
Staying there
Tangol will pick up tourists from any hotel in Buenos Aires, but after the intensity of the game, the Faena makes for tranquil, upmarket accommodation. Doubles from Dh1,110. faena.com
Silent Hill f
Publisher: Konami
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rating: 4.5/5
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
What's in the deal?
Agreement aims to boost trade by £25.5bn a year in the long run, compared with a total of £42.6bn in 2024
India will slash levies on medical devices, machinery, cosmetics, soft drinks and lamb.
India will also cut automotive tariffs to 10% under a quota from over 100% currently.
Indian employees in the UK will receive three years exemption from social security payments
India expects 99% of exports to benefit from zero duty, raising opportunities for textiles, marine products, footwear and jewellery
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
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Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Match info
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Liverpool v Porto, Tuesday, 11pm (UAE)
Matches can be watched on BeIN Sports
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
