Week - 7 .. UAE 20 years ago

THE PAST

The United Arab Emirates is a federation which consists of seven emirates. The largest emirate is Abu Dhabi which contains the nation's capital city Abu Dhabi. It is one of the countries that are rich in culture and tradition which effects the lifestyle of its locals. And it is also my homeland.

Work in the U.A.E mainly depends on its oasis atmosphere and surrounding gulf, at that time they had nothing to support them financially other than the raw materials at hand.

Fishing, The Sea has been generous to the people of the emirates providing them with a reliable source of food. Hadra a type of fish trap by which fish were guided along a stake-fence and into a small enclosure where they were harvested at low-tide, or a moveable garghour trap woven from palm fronds, weighted down by stones, and baited to entice fish to enter through a narrow hole. Other than fish, there are turtles and dugongs also provided valuable protein. They were caught by stalking them through the shallows, from a canoe, and eventually diving in after them and literally grappling with them. Turtle eggs were collected from nesting beaches and most parts of the animal were utilized.


Boating, Crafts men who build boats used for transportion or during long fishing trips or pearling was a neccary trade. The Arab dhow is one of the most graceful sailing craft, the purpose for which a traditional wooden vessel was intended greatly influenced its design and still today craftsmen build working boats and racing dhows.


Pearls and Pearling, The lulu or pearl oyster provided a source of local wealth in the emirates, Pearl oysters are found naturally on many shallow banks in the Gulf. The pearling industry had transformed the traditional economy of the tribal population. Many families moved to live permanently in one of the coastal settlements, increasing, in particular, the size and importance of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.