Latest: National Day 2021 live: UAE celebrates 50th year
Visitors at Expo 2020 Dubai are attempting to make the world’s largest burqa, a traditional Emirati face covering, to celebrate the UAE’s Golden Jubilee.
A burqa is a metallic-coloured face accessory that has been worn by women – mostly in the early days of the UAE – to show they are married or as a form of protection from the sun and dust.
It is an important part of Emirati culture and is still worn regularly by elderly women and by young women for special occasions.
Maryam Qayed, 34, is the Emirati woman behind the world record attempt. She is the founder of Al Beqsha, an Emirati cultural tourism company that sells locally made souvenirs and holds cultural workshops for tourists and residents.
The company has a kiosk at Expo 2020 Dubai, where the largest burqa, at 1.25 metres, is coming to life.
“Burqa is a symbol for us, and as Emirati women, we still love and relate to it,” Ms Qayed told The National.
“Women in the past wore it because they wanted to protect their beauty and help them in their journey of modesty. At the same time, it was associated with their personal identity. Even today, people share their stories that their grandmothers still wear even while sleeping, which is very interesting.
“Nowadays, it is not common for people to wear it, but it is still a symbol and is part of UAE’s culture.”
Visitors at the expo started sewing the burqa together on November 30 and it is expected to be finished on Thursday, in time for the UAE’s 50th anniversary.
Once it is completed, Ms Qayed hopes to give the burqa to the Mother of the Nation, Sheikha Fatima, who is the Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and Chairwoman of the General Women's Union.
“Sheikha Fatima is someone who we are really inspired by. We thought of dedicating something special – the longest burqa in the world made by Emirati women and residents. It’s the first attempt ever done,” Ms Qayed said.
“Everyone who joins us to make the burqa will be taught more about the burqa – what it means and represents. It’s such an important part of our history, culture and our traditional wear.”
A burqa is made of a cloth lining called al sheel and then a wooden piece known as al seif is placed in the centre of the fabric, where the nose is.
The Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism said on its website that the burqa has changed significantly over the years.
“Traditionally, the burqa was quite large and covered most of the face, and both old and young women wore it throughout the day,” the department said.
“The materials used today are different, as are the styles, although this difference is most commonly seen in burqas worn by younger women. Older women’s burqas look similar to those of the past.
“Young women wearing burqas for special occasions use the burqa to highlight their beauty, which is completely different from how women in previous generations would have worn theirs.”
Ms Qayed said the completed burqa would be presented at the Women’s Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday.
It is not clear whether Ms Qayed plans on contacting Guinness World Records, but said the attempt is more to celebrate the UAE's culture and its 50th anniversary.
Earlier this year, a bride from Cyprus set a Guinness World Record for the longest wedding veil, which measured 6,962 metres.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
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Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Dubai World Cup Carnival Thursday race card
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m
9.25pm: Handicap $135,000 (D) 1,400m
10pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
UFC Fight Night 2
1am – Early prelims
2am – Prelims
4am-7am – Main card
7:30am-9am – press cons
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
Small Victories: The True Story of Faith No More by Adrian Harte
Jawbone Press
