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Tribute to women's role in UAE history

The limited blessings of the desert and the seas were utilised to the maximum and life, although tough, was made easier for all the members of the family with the women playing an active role on the homestead.

Several activities, being organised in the Heritage Surprises theme week, is a tribute and a showcase of the rich, yet simple lifestyle of the past.

Maitha Gobash, Administration Co-ordinator, Dubai Summer Surprises and Supervisor of the Women's handicraft shows, said, "As part of the Heritage Surprises theme week, we have tried to create a number of events that showcase those aspects of our heritage that reveals a new dimension of our people to the visitors."

The Ladies Traditional Handicrafts Corner being organised at the Al Mamzar Centre every evening for instance showcases the entire range of handicrafts being practised in the UAE. A group of six women meticulously work on clothes, yarn and palm leaves to create objects of daily use.

Whether it is 'Al Tali', tailoring special clothes for women, making 'baraq' a traditional face covering made from a material called 'Al Neel', preparing henna for application, making rugs from palm leaves known as 'Saaf Al Khoos' or spinning yarn from sheep wool, or making the embellished saddle for camels called 'Al Sadoo', women have played a great role.

Meanwhile, the stage adaptation of the popular Nickelodeon show, Blue's Clues , is a huge hit at the Modhesh Fun City Stage, with amazing interactive for one to four years' olds. The Stage area of the Modhesh Fun City is host to a whole range of entertaining shows, each one attempting to outdo the other with stunts, music and special effects.

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