DUBAI // No one can deny the alluring beauty of the Creek district with its souqs, abras, dhows and nearby Al Fahidi.
Now a cultural expert says more emphasis needs to be given to promoting Old Dubai to tourists, instead of beach developments or super malls, to give them a taste of the emirate’s real heritage.
“Everyone has the beach and sunshine and malls,” said Nasif Kayed, director of the Sheikh Mohammed Centre For Cultural Understanding in Al Fahidi.
“We at the centre are the only true cultural experience.
“Visiting a museum, to stand in front of a sculpture and read information, it isn’t enough any more. People want to know why we dress this way, why we eat this way. They want to learn and interact.”
Mr Kayed said that even Emiratis knew little about the city’s cultural areas.
“The houses are empty, it’s not enticing,” he said. “It’s been a battle of whose responsibility it was.
“But now that the tourism and cultural authorities have got together with the municipality, things will move forward, bringing hotels, restaurants and a true cultural experience over the next couple of years.”
Research at Zayed University found that residents and tourists feel that the emirate should be doing more to promote its culture and history. “The growth of Dubai has been so quick that there could be a loss of identity,” said Dr Filareti Kotsi, a tourism expert from Zayed University.
“When I first started teaching and wanted to take students on trips it amazed me how few had been to places like Bastakiya.
“What was interesting is that families don’t take the kids to these places and instead go to the more modern places like Dubai Mall.
“In Abu Dhabi there are museums and galleries opening but in Dubai it’s about promoting the culture within, the Emirati identity.”
Emirati students Rowdha Al Sayegh and Maryan Al Awar interviewed 120 people including tourists, nationals and expatriates to gauge their perceptions of how Dubai is branded to tourists.
“Many of them [45 per cent] said Dubai should do more to promote culture and heritage,” said Ms Al Sayegh, 20.
“We found it interesting that people didn’t think Dubai had culture, so clearly it’s not being promoted properly.
“We came up with the conclusion that the problem starts with us as Emiratis. When tourists ask us questions about where to go, we tell them places like Dubai Mall or Jumeirah Beach Residence.
“Why not take them to a local restaurant to give them a more authentic Emirati experience.
“Maybe we should educate ourselves more before changing other people.”
Ms Al Awar, 21, said places such as the Heritage Village or Al Fahidi “just don’t come up” when asking people about tourism.
“A lot of people think of Dubai as a luxurious shopping destination. That’s partly because of Dubai Mall but when we asked if they felt Dubai was better known for the shopping or the Dubai World Cup, more than four times the number said shopping. With growth, we’ve kind of lost track of how rich our culture and history is.”
Ms Al Awar said it was important for all Emiratis, not only those in the tourism industry, to interact with people visiting the country.
mswan@thenational.ae
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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 candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
JERSEY INFO
Red Jersey
General Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the leader of the General Classification by time.
Green Jersey
Points Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the fastest sprinter, who has obtained the best positions in each stage and intermediate sprints.
White Jersey
Young Rider Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the best young rider born after January 1, 1995 in the overall classification by time (U25).
Black Jersey
Intermediate Sprint Classification: worn daily, starting from Stage 2, by the rider who has gained the most Intermediate Sprint Points.
The specs: 2019 Lincoln MKC
Price, base / as tested: Dh169,995 / Dh192,045
Engine: Turbocharged, 2.0-litre, in-line four-cylinder
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power: 253hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 389Nm @ 2,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 10.7L / 100km
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
ELIO
Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett
Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina
Rating: 4/5
