QAQ's Ramadan heritage programme attracts large crowds

Open from 8.30pm to midnight on weekdays and from 8.30pm to 1 am on weekends, this event featuring the rich and traditional lifestyle of a people steeped in culture is attracting visitors from all nationalities this Ramadan.

Lighting up the location, the giant sized 'Dalahs' (traditional Arabic coffee pots), beautiful Abras (traditional boats) and other features of the Emirati lifestyle dot the scene. And true to the famed Emirati hospitality, visitors to QAQ during Ramadan are greeted with coffee and dates, offering a warm respite.

This year Zaman Awal features four distinct lifestyles of a bygone era including the Bedouin Life, Sea Life, Mountain Life and a more Modern Life and Market. Each theme, resplendent in their own rich history and heritage showcase the special tools and crafters who bring it alive to visitors.

Offering a peek into the past of a race that is steeped in their own special culture and heritage, the Zaman Awal event is full of fascinating insights, kiosks selling wonderful traditional knick knacks and a relaxing atmosphere.

The event which caters for all cultures provides visitors with a deep understanding of the UAE and its people. With stops such as the 'Burqo' Kiosk, and stalls offering a wide and curious variety of antique cultural accessories from tea pots and carpets to prayer beads and kitchen accessories, visitors will be mesmerized with the deep understanding that has gone into making Zaman Awal.

The fragrances of Arabia permeating the air is also a sure sign to visitors that they have reached the Zaman Awal territory. A stop over at the perfume kiosk run by UAE national women who have specialised in the handmade perfume industry and a purchase from the finest and most intricate handmade clothes by another UAE national is a must for visitors.

Visitors to the event can also try their hands at weaving palm fronds with an elderly UAE national woman who specialises in creating household items with the raw material. Other interesting events that have become a hit with the young and the old are the live demonstrations of beautiful handcrafted pottery, fishing nets and ropes made of palm fronds and the creation of different kinds of ships and boats such as Al Boom and Al Shashah, which are indigenous to the region.

The traditional Emarati food such as the 'Regag' bread, the mouthwatering sweet 'El Qulimat', the special UAE bread 'Khameer' and the traditional soft drink 'Namlait' served along the canal are an inviting respite for visitors.

To add a bit of fun to the event, visitors also have the opportunity of taking a ride on the camel and horse on site by the Eye of the Emirates and a section devoted to children with conventional swings and seesaws used by youngsters of a bygone age. And after all the excitement, they can stretch their legs at Al Manamah (or Majlis), the traditional seating area and sip some coffee with dates offered to all visitors.

Besides the special Ramadan activities, visitors can also enjoy the daily happenings at Qanat Al Qasba including savouring the ware from some of the best dining destinations in Sharjah, an Abra boat ride under the stars and a ride in the Eye of the Emirates, the tallest observatory wheel in the region.