The big event in Fujairah at this time is the royal wedding of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi and the further cementing of ties between Fujairah and Dubai and the ruling families of both emirates.Over the way from the Fujairah palace is a series of large tents for the festive occasion and the surrounding streets are decorated with colored lights and designs.
Two interesting extras:
Land of secrets
There are some small, old perhaps dilapidated looking houses on the main road not far from the Palace. They have huge placards in front of them so visitors cannot see them—a new variation on the theme of walls, veils, tinted windows and curtained restaurant rooms. This is also what happens in Olympic cities where the poor are removed and their squalid dwellings bulldozed to create a good appearance for visitors.
Invisibility of Women
Note the way that WAM reports the wedding celebrations:
WAM is reporting this news:
“Fujairah, 9 Feb. 2009 (WAM) - His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah attended this evening the start of celebrations for the wedding of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi to the daughter of Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.”“The celebrations were also attended by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Sheikhs, senior officials, dignitaries and citizens.”
Men are named in official reports but women are usually made invisible and are referred to as “the daughter of”. In UAE museums women do not appear in diagrams listing the family tree of different families.
And still, despite women playing the major part in the rearing of children, even of royal families, they are given little mention or credence.
Congratulations to the new couple! Salaam!
Dr Geoff Pound
Image: H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi
Be careful about spreading these opinions. You might land in hot water with the new proposed media law. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat you say is true though. I live in a "local town" outside Abu Dhabi. The glitz and glamour doesn't reach there....
CONGRATULATIONS H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi
ReplyDelete^(^
thanks Dr Geoff Pound
Women are "invisible", they are not publicly talked about out of great respect, because they are treasured. If you had a jewel would you talk about it and show it to everyone?
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. Keep it up. I'm from the UAE, particularly from Dubai and I don't know life is like in FUJ.
ReplyDeleteI felt the need to comment on the last part of this post because as an Emarati.. I understand what you've pointed out however consider it being 'invisible'.
As you know here, men and women carry their father's name as their second name/ (middle name).
When it comes to marriage, and publishing the news of the marriage they always refer to the girl as the daughter of .... which I don't find odd because I understand this springs from our culture's sense of protecting girls. You might say from what exactly? Well from anything... and it actually shows sign of respect rather than disrespect (like others from other culture might view it.)
In ladies inivitation cards, the name of the girl would usually appear but in men invitation wedding cards it is just the groom and his family and the bride's family inviting people to the wedding.