Art, authorship and empathy come to the fore during the Holy Month
- 11 Apr 2023
Muhammad Yusuf, Features Writer
A series of programmes and events have been activated along with the spiritual observances of the Holy Month of Ramadan. For example, Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi, has announced that it is hosting the 100/100 Best Arabic Poster Exhibition until April 23. The 100 posters featured in the show were selected through an open call as part of the fourth edition of the 100/100: Hundred Best Arabic Posters competition, which is supported by 421, an independent platform dedicated to emerging artists and creative practitioners in the UAE and across the region.
The competition drew thousands of submissions from over 30 countries, and the winning works were chosen to be part of the exhibition. The 100/100: Hundred Best Arabic Posters was initiated by a group of academics and students from Cairo, with the aim of highlighting and celebrating the best Arabic posters from the region.
The Park is also welcoming Ramadan with a variety of activities for families and friends to enjoy. Weekends bring fun family-friendly activities, such as face-painting, art workshops, oud players, tanoura dancers, traditional Emirati food and coffee for the family to enjoy. The Sharjah Ladies Club and its branches welcome Ramadan with a constructive and unique agenda of events and activities, organised during Ramadan days and nights in Kalba, Al Dhaid, Al Mudam, Al Bataeh, Wadi Al Hilo, Khorfakkan, Dibba Al Hisn and Al Hamriya.
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In the City of Kalba, the Club branch, in cooperation with the Department of Islamic Affairs, organises a calendar of Ramadan competitions, one of which is the seventh cycle of the Holy Quran competition for women, children and the elderly, in the age group 8 - 50 years, who are members of the permanent sessions in or outside the branch.
At the Al Bataeh branch, Marasi Restaurant welcomes visitors by introducing popular dishes, while the Layaqa Fitness Center offers discounts up to 20 per cent on its services for the women. Al Mudam branch organises the Ramadan creations programme targeting children. In Al Dhaid City, a range of religious events are held for women.
At Wadi Al Hilo, Ibdaa’ Talent Centre organises an event hosted by the Wadi Al Hilo Public Library, which includes lectures throughout the Holy Month. At the club branch in Dibba Al Hisn city, each weekend, the schedule holds several workshops, shows and cultural competitions for children. In Al Hamriya area, Club branch activities begins with the Spring Adventure Camp for children, which will be held in two periods, morning and evening, throughout the days of the Holy Month.
Moved by the spirit of giving, author Nausheen Ahmed has dedicated her latest historically inspired children’s fiction book Ahmed the Chief’s Son to the Founding Fathers of the UAE. “I want to give back to the nation I grew up in and which I call my home,” says the author. “The book is historical fiction about the founding of UAE, as told through a child’s eyes.”
It is a children’s story inspired by the culture of the UAE, its positive Islamic values and heritage. It can be read by anyone wanting to know about the country’s beginning as a great nation. “The UAE has given us a platform to showcase our talent and we feel honoured to be given the opportunity to give back to the UAE as a token of our appreciation,” Ahmed said. The narrative fiction book is part of a series that will showcase the lives of children in bygone days, when the UAE was newly forming into a nation.
Sharjah Cooperative announced the allocation of Dhs35 million to support more than 10,000 basic consumer goods during Ramadan, as part of the initiatives presented by it to reduce the burden on consumers, including special offers on products up to 75 per cent.
Majid Salem Al Junaid, CEO of Sharjah Cooperative, said that the “Ramadan bounties” campaign will reduce the purchasing burden for citizens and residents alike. The cooperative has endeavoured to provide consumer products, food and supplies at reasonable prices within the reach of all, through more than 50 outlets for sale spread throughout across the Emirate of Sharjah, and through the online store.
As part of the “Ramadan bounties” campaign (Mar. 22 – Apr. 25), Sharjah Cooperative also offers shoppers the opportunity to enter the draw for 30 free Umrah trips that include accommodation and travel, 10 hotel stays in the country, 10 travel tickets with no destination specified, in addition to 50 gift cards; a winner of 500 Dirhams each, for whoever spends 300 Dirhams or more in any of the Sharjah Coop branches in Sharjah, the eastern region, central region and via the online store.
The cooperative, in coordination with charitable institutions and agencies in the country, began distributing Ramadan Meer in the form of various food baskets, with the aim of enabling the beneficiary families to avail of the necessary foodstuffs, in conjunction with the advent of the Holy Month. Visitors to the Global Village are invited to visit the Majlis of the World. One of the highlights of the experience is the daily firing of the Ramadan Cannon, which signals the end of the day’s fast. The Ramadan Cannon is a traditional symbol of the Holy Month across the MENA region. At Global Village’s Majlis of the World, guests can witness the unique event every day at sunset. It is open every day during Ramadan, from sunset until 2 am.
