Camel Journey: Reviving Emirati Heritage in the Dubai Desert

2024-01-07 10:38:59

Dubai – WAM
The roads were not paved for the Emirati caravans in the decades that preceded the establishment of the union. Rather, they used to make their paths between the desert reefs in the middle of the sand to reach their goal. The tribes used tracers to infer the lines of the roads that were drawn by the winds and storms, and sand dunes often changed their shapes, taking The shape of the feet of camels that learned patience in exploring the depths of the desert.
In order to revive that Emirati heritage, so that the impact extends from the founding fathers to the emerging generations, this annual tradition continues, which is revived by the “Hamdan Bin Mohammed Center for the Revival of Heritage” through the “Camel Journey” convoy. Away from the city community, where the desert opened its embrace to tell its guests of 16 different nationalities, both citizens and residents of the state’s land, stories and tales of people who passed through here. The moonlight was their companion and the stars were their guide, to connect the present with the heritage.
The “Camel Journey” returned to Dubai on Saturday, during which the camel caravan, in its tenth edition, covered a distance of 557 km between the sand dunes of the desert of the United Arab Emirates for its convoy, which included 37 participants from 16 different nationalities, in the journey that took 12 days on the back of the horse amidst the sand dunes, which… It started from the Arada area and returned to its final destination in the Heritage Village in the Global Village.
The trip began from the last area in the Rub’ al-Khali desert on December 26, where the participants made several stops, the most notable of which were: south of Tal Mereb, Al-Kharza, east of Qasr Al-Sarab Reserve, Arabian Oryx Reserve, east of Haliba, east of Umm Al-Hab, south of Butis Reserve, where the convoy continues its journey. Towards, south of Al Khazna, Sweihan, Al Ajban, Saih Al Salam, arriving at the final point at the Heritage Village in the Global Village yesterday, January 6th.
The story of the ancient caravan routes and the desert “pathways” that were vibrant in the sands of the Emirates captures many memories and sorrows, especially those of their paths with their feet back and forth between the outskirts of the Emirates. The people of the desert are distinguished by their good knowledge of these desert roads and paths, as the circumstances of life forced them to They master this in order to search for water and food.
In this regard, Abdullah Hamdan bin Dalmouk, CEO of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Center for the Revival of Heritage, emphasizes the content and essence of this trip, which is sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, and the details of which are supervised by His Highness the Sheikh. Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, for its wisdom, commitment, cooperation and patience in overcoming many challenges, the ruggedness of some of the areas that the convoy crossed, and the increase in the number of traveling hours.
Bin Dalmouk said, as he sat on the seat of the council in the heritage village and drew on grains of sand after a short break after just returning from the “camel trip”: “This trip is important and a source of pride for us… It is a message to convey our vision of preserving and preserving the nation’s heritage since the center was established in 2013.” 2004, which carries within it many of our authentic Arab values of coexistence and love.”
Regarding the “Camel Journey,” the CEO of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Center for Heritage Revival told the Emirates News Agency, “WAM,”: “We often reached the designated paths after dark, and the story of those paths and paths is not only a story of movement from one place to another, but “Its details summarize the tribes’ close relationship with place and time, and constitute for them landmarks vibrant with life in the middle of the desert.”
Regarding the values that the nomadic life instills in the souls of the participants, he explained: “The desert is the cradle and incubator of the Arabic language. We want to teach our children and expand their imagination to places and environments they are not familiar with, to be polite with the etiquette and authenticity of the Bedouin society, its traditions and culture, which is essentially formed from the desert school, dealing with camels, Learning about the environment and the great importance of the Ghaf tree in the local heritage, passing on folk tales from grandfathers and fathers, preserving the authentic Emirati heritage, and in the end the journey in memory forms perceptions and concepts that prepare them for the values of patience and strength.”
The French participant, Alexandre Fedotov, expressed his pride and happiness in participating in the camel trekking route in the United Arab Emirates, and said: “Despite the difficulty of riding a camel, which is very different from horses, in very rugged areas and for two full weeks in a hot desert atmosphere, it was an experience.” It is enjoyable and has many stunning views in the valleys and watching the sunrise and sunset behind the mountains that make you forget everything.”
For her part, the Mexican participant, Nadia Cortes, who remained beaming in the Emirati women’s uniform, said: “I am very proud of the idea of camping in the Emirates desert for 12 days, and despite the difficulties of riding a camel and tightening my grip to continue walking with the convoy, it required a lot of physical effort, the beauty of the desert, and integration.” “With nature and going back in time to the days of our ancestors, these are scenes that words cannot describe.”
In turn, Emirati participant Saif Kuttab Al Suwaidi said: “The camel is a popular heritage that every Emirati cherishes, especially since it reflects an aspect of the era of the first ancestors of whom we are proud.
The camel journey is a difficult and beautiful experience at the same time, and we commend those in charge of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Center for Heritage Revival for its keenness to provide the requirements of the trip for all participants and to celebrate the authentic Emirati heritage.”
Emirati participant Abdul Khaleq Al Sarkal said that the real joy in the camel trip was in the human diversity of participants of different nationalities who wanted to explore the creativity of the desert in the UAE, and to work within one team to face all challenges.