FUJAIRAH // Without looking up, Mohammed Al Shehhi threw his metre-long steel sword into the air.
He caught it, then balanced the sharp weapon on the tip of a finger before hoisting it into the air again with a special twirl and a yell.
"A sign of true manhood is being able to throw a sword and catch it without fail," said Mohammed, 19.
Having sustained a serious injury to his head just two weeks ago after a throw, he remains determined to continue this traditional sport despite his mother's concern.
"I am from the mountains and the sword was my first toy," Mohammed said.
He was one of 16 swordsmen competing yesterday in a continuing Fujairah sword competition that began last month.
A special competition session was held for National Day and the young swordsmen showed up in national-coloured scarves.
Held on the grounds of the 340- year-old Fujairah Fort, the championships are one of many celebrations for National Day over the past 40 days.
Yasser Al Shehhi, 22, who took third place in last year's championship, winning Dh40,000 and a bronze sword, is back this year to try to win first place.
The winner is given a golden sword and Dh100,000, while second place receives a silver sword and Dh60,000.
"It is one of the few times in the year where a man can release his aggression in an artful way," said Yasser. "And there is no better time to show what an Emirati is made of then on National Day."
Both competitors are members of the mountain tribe of Al Shehhuh, where the young train in the art of swords from the tender age of five.
"We want to show the world that no matter how much we progress as a country, we have maintained our traditional values and sports," said Yasser.
Just a few steps from the fort, a 15-metre replica of a sword has been built on the roundabout. The UAE Sword was a gift by Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad, Crown Prince of Fujairah, to mark the country's 40th anniversary.
Earlier in the day there were loud sounds coming from an enclosed area near the sword arena.
At the scream of a hand-held siren, the reins of two bulls in the arena were loosened and off they went, butting heads and bellowing as they fought.
Some misstepped and ended up with scrapped hides and angry muttering from their owners as they were pulled back after losing.
"My bull is tough, he just needs a slap on his behind and he is ready to fight," said Mohammed bin Khames, owner of Weld Al Hesan (Son of a Horse), a white bull with a small UAE flag tied around its horn.
Many of the creatures were painted in national colours, while others wore ribbons that fell off during their fights.
"He has agility and the beauty of a horse. That's why I called him Son of a Horse," said Mr bin Khames.
Asked what he would do if his bull got hurt or killed, he shrugged and said: "We will just eat him."
While the bulls battled it out in a sandy arena, a line of Arabian horses decked in national colours trotted around the heritage village set up at the base of the majestic fort. Against a backdrop of national songs and buzz of celebrating crowds, sometimes they carried children; other times they refused to carry anyone.
Camels were also on parade, and spent most of the day resting near the harbeya dancers but rose groaning when the music got too loud.
"We always go to heritage villages, but this year it's extra special because it's our country's birthday," said Umm Hamad, in her 50s, who came to the fort with her family.
"We all know how to cook the dishes featured here but it is different when you come to just sit inside one of these tents and let someone else do the cooking for you for a change," said the housewife and mother of six.
The fort's heritage village featured traditional handicrafts and food, with some young Emiratis turning this special day into a career change.
Kholood Al Mesmari, 30, set up shop selling sword key chains and ghutra, or Arabic headgear, in flag colours.
"I wanted to do something special for National Day, something that would be a limited edition and exclusive," said Ms Al Mesmari, who was wearing an abaya lined with red, and rings and bracelets in national colours.
"I am really proud to be an Emirati woman and I am particularly proud to be from Fujairah."
Looking over to the bullfighting arena and trotting horses, she added: "We are the Wild West of the UAE. We have our own kind of cowboys."
rghazal@thenational.ae
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.
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
Also on December 7 to 9, the third edition of the Gulf Car Festival (www.gulfcarfestival.com) will take over Dubai Festival City Mall, a new venue for the event. Last year's festival brought together about 900 cars worth more than Dh300 million from across the Emirates and wider Gulf region – and that first figure is set to swell by several hundred this time around, with between 1,000 and 1,200 cars expected. The first day is themed around American muscle; the second centres on supercars, exotics, European cars and classics; and the final day will major in JDM (Japanese domestic market) cars, tuned vehicles and trucks. Individuals and car clubs can register their vehicles, although the festival isn’t all static displays, with stunt drifting, a rev battle, car pulls and a burnout competition.
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
Power: 420kW
Torque: 780Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh1,350,000
On sale: Available for preorder now
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What are the GCSE grade equivalents?
- Grade 9 = above an A*
- Grade 8 = between grades A* and A
- Grade 7 = grade A
- Grade 6 = just above a grade B
- Grade 5 = between grades B and C
- Grade 4 = grade C
- Grade 3 = between grades D and E
- Grade 2 = between grades E and F
- Grade 1 = between grades F and G
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
UAE%20Warriors%2033%20Results
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Jordan cabinet changes
In
- Raed Mozafar Abu Al Saoud, Minister of Water and Irrigation
- Dr Bassam Samir Al Talhouni, Minister of Justice
- Majd Mohamed Shoueikeh, State Minister of Development of Foundation Performance
- Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research
- Falah Abdalla Al Ammoush, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Basma Moussa Ishakat, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Ghazi Monawar Al Zein, Minister of Health
- Ibrahim Sobhi Alshahahede, Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Environment
- Dr Mohamed Suleiman Aburamman, Minister of Culture and Minister of Youth
Out
- Dr Adel Issa Al Tawissi, Minister of High Education and Scientific Research
- Hala Noaman “Basiso Lattouf”, Minister of Social Development
- Dr Mahmud Yassin Al Sheyab, Minister of Health
- Yahya Moussa Kasbi, Minister of Public Works and Housing
- Nayef Hamidi Al Fayez, Minister of Environment
- Majd Mohamed Shoueika, Minister of Public Sector Development
- Khalid Moussa Al Huneifat, Minister of Agriculture
- Dr Awad Abu Jarad Al Mushakiba, Minister of Justice
- Mounir Moussa Ouwais, Minister of Water and Agriculture
- Dr Azmi Mahmud Mohafaza, Minister of Education
- Mokarram Mustafa Al Kaysi, Minister of Youth
- Basma Mohamed Al Nousour, Minister of Culture
The biog:
From: Wimbledon, London, UK
Education: Medical doctor
Hobbies: Travelling, meeting new people and cultures
Favourite animals: All of them
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Europe’s rearming plan
- Suspend strict budget rules to allow member countries to step up defence spending
- Create new "instrument" providing €150 billion of loans to member countries for defence investment
- Use the existing EU budget to direct more funds towards defence-related investment
- Engage the bloc's European Investment Bank to drop limits on lending to defence firms
- Create a savings and investments union to help companies access capital
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
A State of Passion
Directors: Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi
Stars: Dr Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Rating: 4/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
