UAE women showcase rich diversity

sharjah — “When we were young we had to weave, because it was a part of life. Now I am here to display a product, I feel so proud to be able to engage in this age-old custom,” a woman entrepreneur, selling Sadou at the ongoing Sharjah cultural fair, said.

Sadou, the traditional Bedouin weaving using a floor loom, is among the most ancient industries in the Gulf. Using wool from camels and goats, it is used to make carpets, saddlebags and tent-houses.

She echoed the feelings of women participants from the UAE who are using age-old skills to display traditional style and food at the Sharjah Heritage Days to highlight the culture and heritage of olden days.

The women entrepreneurs believe that it is a great way of representing and showcasing the diversity that exists in their country. It gives them immense pleasure that the residents of various nationalities are keen and interested in their products and support them.

The Sharjah Heritage Days which will conclude on April 22 is an annual cultural event that encourages women from all walks of life to display their products and goods whilst providing them a podium to engage in trade. There are more than 150 stores which oversee women keeping their traditions alive through varied art and craft forms.

Um Ahmed, the owner of Shaza Al Rabee perfumes, said that her main objective was to showcase original homemade perfumes and incense that women made in the olden days. “I used to watch my grandmother make perfumes at home and she taught me.”

Making perfumes and bakhoor (incense) at home was a common practice among Emirati women in the old days, she added. Who would have thought that a simple initiative like this could transform lives? When more than 100 women comprising Emiratis as well as expatriates of various nationalities come together, to exhibit and sell their products, the reality is it can actually changes lives,” said Abdulaziz Almusallam, chairman of Sharjah Institute for Heritage.

afkarali@khaleejtimes.com