JBR comes alive with UAE National Day carnival

Dubai - Shaikh Nahyan interacted with little dancers - children on stage, and stopped to see the wall art being painted by artists from different nationalities, including Emirati, Najat Hassan Makki.

Shaikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development graced the JBR cultural carnival on Tuesday evening and briefly witnessed a host of cultural activities.
Shaikh Nahyan interacted with little dancers - children on stage, and stopped to see the wall art being painted by artists from different nationalities, including Emirati, Najat Hassan Makki.
Music was the highlight of the evening with men in white singing spirited odes to the nation, and performing the traditional line dance. Lights, singing and rhythmic drum beats set the tone of the evening. Beach walkers and visitors were caught by happy surprise, photographing and making videos of the performances of people in their patriotic spirit.
At least 12 countries had their stalls at JBR, showcasing their traditions - Egypt, Russia, France, Sudan, Colombia, Kazakhistan, Vietnam, Serbia, Austria, Thailand, and the UAE.
Video by Leslie Pableo / Khaleej Times
The UAE stalls - they were two - had a woman in traditional abaya and face mask demonstrating palm weaving, while an elderly man was chipping away at a miniature wooden boat, to mark the tradition of dhow making in the Emirates.
The crowds took pictures with people in their national dress. Two tall Kazakh gentlemen - Dias and Shalkar - from Almaty posed for a few dozen pictures. Dias said in the past few days they've posed for about 1,000 pictures with people. They will continue to do so till December 7, when the carnival concludes at JBR.
An Australian-UK couple Fionna Van Hooff and Murray Van Hoof and their two children were happy to have attended the festivities, as they had come to JBR all the way from Arabian Ranches. The kids especially loved the tall Kazakh men in costume, as also the wood carver man from the UAE stall.
Another visitor, Dimidova Irima from Russia, was seen smiling at the music and shrieks and laughter from the crowds. "This is the third day in a row I have come back to see this.. (he carnival)". She said she loved seeing people of different cultures. "I love the China Republic stall. I like Chinese people very much," she said.
nivriti@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai