Eid and nature
Families and tourists take in special attractions and events across the country as temperatures take a dip. Nick Webster and Ruba Haza report
Families take advantage of the cooler weather to spend the second day of the Eid holidays at Al Qudra Flamingo and Swan Lake in Dubai. To see how the rest of the country celebrated,
An extra day or two off work was the perfect tonic for tourists and residents who enjoyed the many events and attractions during Eid Al Adha this weekend.
A drop in temperatures yesterday was a double dose of fortune for those lucky enough to enjoy two days off, either side of the weekend.
On Friday, a reception at Mushrif Palace in Abu Dhabi was hosted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. The event marking Eid was attended by Crown Princes and Deputy Rulers from the emirates.
Shoroq Al Kabbi, an Emirati mother of three who lives in Fujairah, said the holiday was all about family.
“The first day of Eid is about traditions and getting together as a family,” said Ms Al Kabbi, 32. “Family members from Abu Dhabi and Sharjah came to celebrate Eid with us at our father’s house in Merbeh.
“We exchanged Eid wishes, shared a meal together and children collected their Eideah [money given to youngsters during Eid]”.
She and her family decided to have lunch at Fujairah City Centre before heading to Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai yesterday.
“We brought them here to play and eat before we start our long trip to Dubai to watch the fireworks at the beach,” she said. “We went last year and the kids loved it so they asked to go again this year.”
“We’ll spend the night there and take the kids to Modhesh World on Sunday.”
Another family said they were planning to go to the beach in the evening on the first day of Eid, but the humidity was a little higher than they expected in Kalba.
“I went to the abattoir after Eid prayers and bought meat,” said Mostafa Youssri, 36, an Egyptian father of two. “We distributed some of it and kept the rest to make a barbecue on the beach in the evening, but the humid weather made us change our plans.
“Instead, we took the children to the amusement park in Fujairah, but we are thinking of going to Kalba Beach today, as the weather seems better and less humid.”
Pakistani Bilal Mohammad, 24, who works for Emirates airline catering, has been in the UAE for three years, but was making his first visit to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi on his extra day off.
“A three-day weekend is nice, so I’m making the most of it with a day out with my friends,” Mr Mohammad said. “There are a lot of people with the same idea of visiting the Grand Mosque, but it is still not too busy.
“It’s just nice to spend some time with others. We’re going for a walk at the Corniche as it’s not too hot, and will then get some food.”
Lydia Sauer was on a oneweek visit from Germany.
“We have been staying in Jumeirah Beach Residence so we’ve had a great location from which to watch the fireworks each night,” she said. “It is my first visit to the UAE and it has been a wonderful atmosphere with the street entertainers and market stalls on JBR.
“I thought there would be more crowds because it is Eid, but I guess a lot of people are away on vacation and making the most of the holidays.”
Bijod Chittiappily, 30, who lives in International City in Dubai, was enjoying a day out on the Corniche in Abu Dhabi.
“We all work hard, so an extra day off has been a bit of luck for us,” Mr Chittiappily said. “We are making the most of it, as we don’t often get the chance to come to Abu Dhabi. It is a different pace to Dubai so it is making a nice change.”
Tourist Marie Luca, from a village near Munich in Germany, was impressed with the choice on offer for sightseeing.
“I am only here for a few days, so it is difficult to fit everything in,” Ms Luca said. “I wanted to come to Abu Dhabi to see the Grand Mosque. It is an amazing building and feels particularly special during Eid.”
Special prayers were offered in Abu Dhabi to the nation’s fallen servicemen and women, and support was offered to those in need farther afield.
The Emirates Red Crescent continued its charitable work, distributing Eid sacrifices to families of martyrs and those wounded across the Hadhramaut region of Yemen.
The efforts were part of the Zayed Legacy to Support Yemeni People campaign, which provides Eid sacrifices, clothing, gifts and money, until the third day of Eid in Yemen.