The UAE is hosting a series of traditional dhow sailing, rowing races, heritage events and activities, over the course of the first Dubai Marine and Heritage Festival 2013 festival, putting the spotlight on UAE’s marine heritage.
The purpose of the festival is to deliver an educational and cultural message to the new generation. It aims to direct their interest to the valuable marina heritage in which it holds strong symbols of persistence, goodness and challenge.
The festival revives the unique marina history of the Gulf region through various activities and events that are organized on Dubai beaches. Additionally, the festival, which will be organized annually, will be in synchronization with the final rounds for marina seasonal races.
The activities include tailoring the sale ship competition, a national products exhibition, scooping pearls from oysters, coastal crafts, popular local brands, Arabic hospitality and tourists guides speaking in over 12 languages, including English, French, Dutch and Russian.
The festival embraces local seafood and the region’s distinctive cultural and social concept of hospitality.
Also participating in the festival are Emirati bakery and local restaurants such as AlMultqa, which is owned by Saif Harib AlFalahi, an Emirati citizen with a great passion for Gulf marina history.
Arab News spoke to AlFalahi about his contribution to the marina heritage in the Gulf.
“The Gulf local food is one of the world’s most delicious cuisines. Unfortunately, it is not properly presented, positioned or supported.
I have been working in this field for the past 30 years and I am still learning about it; it is a very rich culture which my mother, whom I believe was a master chef, introduced me to, and since then I have been passionately working on providing the best of it,” he said.
On his restaurant’s growth plans, he said: “I will definitely not stop where I am in my culture and cuisine journey and I will continue to grow in every possible way to create awareness of the amazing local food my country is offering. I wish we can see an exhibition for local food at the level of the Gulf countries level. Not only it will put our cuisine on the international culinary map, but Emiratis will know about Saudis, Kuwaitis will know about Bahrainis and so on. It will create a heritage network that can actually change the perception of local food, especially in the minds of the youth.”
The festival is running from April 13-20 in various locations such as the Jumeira Beach, The Heritage Village and Dubai National Marine Club.
UAE heritage shines at Dubai marine fest
UAE heritage shines at Dubai marine fest
Jessica Kahawaty to narrate London concert paying tribute to Arab music icons
DUBAI: Australian Lebanese model and entrepreneur Jessica Kahawaty this week announced that she will serve as the storyteller for “A Night With The Legends,” a one-night musical tribute celebrating iconic women of Arabic music, taking place at London’s Royal Albert Hall on March 5.
Kahawaty will portray Scheherazade and deliver spoken narration during the program.
The evening will pay tribute to the legacies of Umm Kulthum, Fairuz, Warda, Sabah, Asmahan and Layla Mourad.
Vocals will be performed by Lebanese vocalist Abeer Nehme, accompanied by the UK-based London Arab Orchestra under the direction of conductor Basel Saleh, alongside the London-based Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. The program will also feature a 70-member all-female choir.
“I’m incredibly humbled,” Kahawaty wrote to her 1.8 million followers on Instagram. “As storyteller, I’ll be weaving history, memory and meaning into the musical experience in a one-night tribute celebrating the iconic women of the golden era of Arabic music.”
“I cannot wait to see you all there,” she added.
Kahawaty is also an entrepreneur. She co-founded fine jewelry label Kahawaty Jewels with her father, master jeweler Ghassan Kahawaty, launching the Dubai-based brand last year as a continuation of the family’s longstanding craftsmanship tradition.
“I grew up watching my father in his jewelry trade. I saw how happy he made people when he created these beautiful pieces,” Kahawaty previously told Arab News. “I’ve always wanted to continue my father’s legacy and my grandfather’s trade. I felt like this is the perfect time to launch Kahawaty Jewels in Dubai, which is a city I’ve been in for over 13 years.”
Kahawaty and her mother are also behind UAE-based food delivery business Mama Rita. In July last year, the pair expanded the venture with the launch of a cookbook, which featured a cover endorsement from Hollywood actress and producer Courteney Cox.
Writing on Instagram at the time, Kahawaty said: “The moment we held the Mama Rita cookbook in our hands for the very first time … after two years of pouring our hearts into it. And we’re beyond thrilled to share a special surprise on the cover — a quote from the one and only (Courteney Cox). Her iconic role as Monica in ‘Friends’ — the talented chef, perfectionist and loving control freak — mirrors so much of the dynamic between mum and me. And her true persona is even more beautiful, warm and generous.”
