Khowla Ali (Dubai)

The UAE on Monday joins the people of Qatar in celebrating Qatar’s National Day, as Emirati-Qatari relations are linked by several deep-rooted factors including customs, shared religious and linguistic traditions, and proximity within the Gulf states.

The two countries are also alike in their oral histories and material heritage, with a strong connection formed from the past that has been developed and strengthened into the present, as revealed by the narratives passed down from generation to generation.

Common Factors

Regarding these shared historical ties between the UAE and Qatar, oral history researcher Mariam Sultan Al Mazrouei said: “The relationship between the UAE and Qatar is as old as time, shared with many factors such as neighbourhood, customs and traditions, kinship relations, in addition to cultural, social, economic convergence, and shared historical ties.

The attire, for both men and women, is similar with slight differences in the wearing of the Ghitra and Agal. The Qatari Agal is distinguished by the “Karkousha”’ that hangs on the back in four lines ending with four black masses, which slightly differs from the Emirati one, which went through stages until it reached its final form.

The Emirati Agal was formerly called “Al Shatfa” or “Al Khazam”, worn by the sheikhs of the UAE, like Sheikh Shakhbout bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God bless his soul.”

Sources of Livelihood

Al Mazrouei pointed out that geographical proximity to the sea made fishing and seafaring a shared source of livelihood and sustenance for both Emirati and Qatari people. In the past, the people of both nations went out to sea in search of a livelihood, even travelling as far as India and beyond, bringing with them customs and traditions of other countries, especially foods like Biryani and the ritual of preparing tea mixed with milk.

The two nations also carry similar hunting traditions with falconry and Saluki hunting, and have a common history of using camels for travel and riding horses.

Oral Narratives

Al Mazrouei said that oral narratives have proven the strong historical trade relations between the UAE and other Gulf nations, especially the Sultanate of Oman, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. There were markets designated for camel trading such as “Souq Al Bada” in Qatar and “Souq Al Ahsa” in Saudi Arabia.

Bedouin caravans moved in search of grazing places, and would travel between Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the Sultanate of Oman during the summer. Popular oral histories mention that some Emirati families settled in Qatar from the Sudan and Qubaisat tribes, Al Mazrouei said.

Archaeological excavations have also shown similarities in pottery extracted from various Gulf states, she added.Cultural exchange, educational cooperation, and the geographical location of Qatar, especially with the country’s commercially important ports like “Port Al Zubarra”, have played a major role in the movement of ships between Qatar and the UAE.

There was historical cooperation between the two nations in education, especially after World War II when oil companies returned to the region. In 1947, during the reign of the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani, Sheikh Mohammed bin Ali Al Mahmoud of Sharjah was called to establish a modern school in Doha, known as “Al-Islah Al-Hamadiya School”, which focused on teaching the Holy Quran, arithmetic, reading, and writing.

Many Emiratis received their education in Qatar, showing mutual scientific and cultural exchange between the two countries. There was also a common currency between Qatar and Dubai, the “Qatar and Dubai Riyal”, circulated from 1966 to 1973, that remained in use until the formation of the UAE.

It was used as an alternative to the Indian Rupee and Gulf Rupee after India decided to devalue the Rupee. When the union was formed, the UAE’s Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, requested the inclusion of Qatar and Bahrain in what is known as the nine-member union, but Qatar and Bahrain preferred to continue as independent states.