LEADIN Iftar in the United Arab Emirates is a time for families to get together and bond over fine food. An event company in Ras al Khaimah is offering expatriates living in the country the chance to experience a rare slice of this gastronomic Emirati tradition. STORYLINE Thareed boiling in a pot. Islamic tradition says this Arabic dish of crispy flat bread layered with meat stew was one of prophet Muhammed's favourites. Abdullah al-Shehhi and his family are preparing for a big feast. They will be hosting iftar for expatriates living in the Emirates at their home in Sha'am; a quaint little town on the border with Oman nestled comfortably in between mountains and sea. It is the last town in the UAE before crossing the border into the Musandam Peninsula of Oman. During the holy month most expatriates living in the capital, Abu Dhabi, or in Dubai will engage in the month by treating themselves to a fancy Iftar or two at a hotel. UAE nationals roughly make up a mere 16% of the total population of the country, so for many visitors, interactions can be limited and hard to come by. Abdullah's home is open to guests everyday, but today is different as his western visitors arrive bringing dates, gifts and sweets. They are welcomed by his children. Inside in the main "majlis", or sitting area, lies a long spread of local cuisine placed carefully on the floor. This gathering has been organised by the Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi Foundation, a public policy and research organisation based in Ras Al Khaimah. Suqrat Bin Bisher, event manager for the foundation, thinks it's important that foreigners experience local culture in distinct areas of the seven sheikhdoms. "We try to connect the foreigners to the locals so that they can get to know the general traditions and customs in the United Arab Emirates in the Bedouin or mountain areas. So today we're in the Sha'am area," he says. The kitchen is bustling with energy. Meat broth is poured over the bread before it is taken to the hungry diners. In the majlis Suqrat explains the traditional Emirati way of sitting whilst eating iftar. "And of course we explained to them the traditions of Ramadan and customs of the Emiratis, the type of food. This is something we are honoured to do, we promote the customs of the Emiratis that have somehow started disappearing from the main-stage, especially for expats," he says. The Shehhi family have been living in Sha'am their whole lives. The patriarch Abdullah was a former school principal and now a grandfather of nine. His son, Khalid explains that opening up their home to others isn't new to their family. "Of course our house is always open, but we always have gatherings and invite people and the door is open. It's good because it brings people together," Khalid says. The guests break their fast with a date, then sit, eat and ask about the different food that's offered. Peter, who works at the US Consulate, just moved to the Emirates one month ago. "It's been fantastic, everybody was so friendly, it was great to try lots of different types of Emirati food and desserts and learn about how an Emirati family celebrates Ramadan," he says. After the main meal, guests are treated to a traditional perfuming ceremony that is customary after eating iftar. Bin Bisher sprays perfume and rose water while another family member offers local incense to the guests. Sean McNabb, a Namibian intern at Hilton Hotels, decided to come to the event because he also was looking for an authentic Emirati experience. "We go to for dinners in Dubai, we go for dinners in Abu Dhabi and we're always looking for a different experience," he says. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/bb3a9b4b3aadac451249c97ede135f71 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 03 Aug 2015
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