The Beauty Shelf: Jawaher Alsuwaidi talks us through her must-have beauty staples
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Khaleej Times
12 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
From Ka'ek to sheer khorma: How UAE expats keep homeland's Eid traditions alive
As Eid Al Adha draws to a close, Muslims all over the world celebrated the occasion with lavish feasts, dressing up in cultural clothes, and using the holidays to reconnect with family. For UAE expats, the celebrations are a special mix of traditions back home combining with Eid rituals in the Emirates. Sabiha A, a Dubai-based Indian expat, said in UAE, "everyone is united in the feeling of trying to find home." "Strangers become friends, and friends become family; we pray, cook food for each other, eat, and travel, and most of all we celebrate Eid together." After fajr, everyone "rushes to take showers, iron clothes, and match jewellery with traditional outfits," she said, describing it as a situation with "chaotic fun." Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. The lunch is the highlight of the day with "mutton biryani, chicken fry, complemented by sweets from gulab jamun to sheer korma," she added. A.M.P, (name withheld on request), converted to Islam in 2010, a year after moving to UAE. The Filipina expat said she observes a fast on the Day of Arafah. Back in her hometown, the Muslim community comes together to contribute towards buying a cow for the Qurbani. In UAE, A.M.P and her husband spent this Eid hosting dinner for relatives and friends. For Maria Raza, a Sharjah-based Pakistani expat from Karachi, no matter the place, Eid is "always about lots of good food, spending time with loved ones, and giving back to the community." However, while Eid in Pakistan is "much livelier—almost chaotic in the best way", the celebrations in UAE is "much calmer; it feels more like a peaceful break from your day-to-day which also nice in its own way," she added. Maria's family keeps the Pakistani customs alive even in UAE; the "night before Eid is all about preparation," she added. Relatives gather as they prepare for Eid breakfast (nashta), apply henna (mehndi) and make meetha (sweet dishes) like suji ka halwa, siwaiyan, or sheer khorma, she said. After the day starts with the Eid prayer, the Dubai-based resident dresses up in new clothes, applies attar (an essential oil), and greets family with Eid wishes. "After that, the day slows down a bit—sometimes we take a nap before breakfast. Then we get ready again in the afternoon to either visit relatives and friends or host them at home" Maria added. Some expats recalled the traditions they have seen in their homeland, unique to a particular area. Suwarti B, a 43-year-old Indonesian expat remembered a ritual, called Manten Sapi, which she saw in her mother's hometown, a 5-hour drive from Semarang. The community "pays respect towards the animals that will be sacrificed. The cow is dressed as a bride and it's wrapped in a seven-fold garland. Then it's wrapped in a shroud, turban, and prayer mat," she said. "Once all the cows are dressed, they are brought to the local mosque and handed over to the sacrificial committee. Then the meat is handled and consumed together," Suwarti added. For Jana A, a Palestinian expat in Dubai, Eid this year was bleak, as the family found it impossible to go about celebrations after seeing images of death and destruction in their homeland. "In our traditions, the house of a deceased person only serves black coffee without Ka'ek (shortbread biscuit filled with date paste) or sweets. The family also doesn't leave their house, visit others or display any festivities. While, thankfully, we did not lose any of our direct family members in the war, we are mourning the loss of our beloved people," she said. However, the Dubai resident fondly remembered how the family, prior to the war, used to follow Palestinian traditions even in UAE, with the festivities starting the night before. "The women in my family and some family friends gathered and prepared the Ka'ek. My mom would always be in charge of kneading the dough, I with preparing the date paste, my sister with managing the oven, and everyone else doing everything in between." After the meal prep was over, the family would rest before waking up for Eid prayer, led by her father at home, Jana said. The next day, the men in the family would "buy the Udhiya (probably a goat or a sheep), slaughter it and distribute the meat to the needy." However, some remains of the Udhiya can not be distributed, called 'Al-Mo'laq' (the internal organs of the livestock). "My mom would fry it with some vegetables and chili and that would be our breakfast. We then spend the day visiting people or receiving people at our home," she added. While these celebrations aren't too different from ones in Palestine, the "village tends to be more lively during Eid, with children playing outside and people walking over to each other's houses," she added. Yasmin H, an Egyptian expat in Dubai, said she resorts to cooking Eid meals from Egypt to "get a sense of home." "In Egypt, people play Um Kalthoum's famous song "Night of Eid" and women prepare for a long holiday of cooking, where they show off their skills." To recreate memories of Eid in Egypt, Yasmin said she prepares Fattah, a famous dish made with rice, tomato paste, and meat.
Khaleej Times
16 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Watch: Indian cricketer Rinku Singh gets engaged to MP Priya Saroj in private ceremony
Indian cricketer Rinku Singh and Samajwadi Party MP Priya Saroj marked the beginning of their journey together with a private yet glamorous engagement celebration on Sunday, June 8, at The Centrum, a luxury hotel in Lucknow, as reported by Indian media. The private yet glamorous event marked the joining of two influential worlds — sports and politics. Indian media reported the couple arriving at the venue in coordinated white and pink outfits, radiating joy. The venue itself was beautifully decorated with floral arrangements and soft lighting, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for the celebration. The ceremony was attended by over 300 guests, including former cricketers like Praveen Kumar and Piyush Chawla, UP Ranji captain Aryan Juyal, and several prominent political figures such as SP leader Akhilesh Yadav, MPs Jaya Bachchan, Dimple Yadav, and Iqra Hasan. Congress leader Rajeev Shukla and veteran politician Ram Gopal Yadav also graced the occasion. Watch the videos below: ð��´BREAKING | 'सिà¤�à¥�सर à¤�िà¤�à¤�' नà¥� रहनà¥� रिà¤�à¤� à¤�à¥�रिà¤�à¥�à¤�र रिà¤�à¤�à¥� सिà¤�ह à¤�र साà¤�सद रà¥�रिया सरà¥�à¤� à¤�à¥� हà¥�à¤� सà¤�ाà¤�, दà¥�à¤�à¥�à¤� वà¥�डियà¥� #RinkuSingh | #PriyaSaroj #Engagement #UttarPradesh | #Lucknow — NDTV India (@ndtvindia) June 8, 2025 Their wedding, scheduled for November 2025 in Varanasi, will mark a new chapter in both their personal and professional lives. About the couple Rinku Singh, 26, is a prominent cricketer for the Kolkata Knight Riders and has represented India in ODIs. Priya Saroj, also 26, is a first-time Member of Parliament representing Machhlishahr constituency and is the daughter of the influential Samajwadi Party MLA Tufani Saroj. The couple's wedding is set for November 2025 in Varanasi. Priya's father, Tufani Saroj, also mentioned that the marriage was arranged with mutual consent after a meeting between both families in Aligarh. 'Rinku and Priya have known each other for some time. They met through Priya's friend's father, who is a cricketer himself. With the blessings of both families, they decided to get married,' the would-be-bride's father told Indian media.
Harpers Bazaar Arabia
17 hours ago
- Harpers Bazaar Arabia
Four Ultra-Luxe Hotels To Book For Your Next Long Weekend Away
Had a taste of the high life? Here are our top picks to whet your appetite for travelling the world this summer Game, Set, Match When luxury meets leisure you get the perfect combination for summer escapism. After appointing Novak Djokovic as its first Global Wellness Advisor last year, Aman is now launching Longevity Pathways with the tennis legend – a series of visionary wellness programmes. Debuting with the Detoxification Programme, designed by Djokovic, it offers a three-day guided reset for body, mind and spirit available at Amanpuri, Amanbagh, Aman Tokyo, Aman New York, Amanyara, and more. A Home Away From Home This summer, you can holiday like you're at home but within the lap of luxury courtesy of One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius, which has just been added to the brand's Private Rental Homes Program. The standalone villas feature two to six bedrooms, statement pools, yoga platforms, huge entertaining areas and beautiful indoor-outdoor living spaces making them perfect for family escapes. Plus, Riva has just launched, a new dining concept serving coastal dishes with a touch of Italian flair, so while you'll feel at home, you won't have to lift a finger. A Taste of Italy in Istanbul When it opens late 2026 in Istanbul, this will be the very first Etro Residence in the world and marks an exciting new chapter for the Italian fashion house. A place where luxury, art and architecture meet, with epic views of the Bosphorus and the brand's signature stamp of patterns, textures, colour and style, Etro Residence is set to redefine luxury living in Turkey's dynamic city. Etro Residence Phuket is also underway, due to open in 2027. Coastal Escapism Fresh from the Monaco Grand Prix in May, there's still plenty of reasons to tap up Monte-Carlo for a summer escape. Namely the stunning renovations at the legendary Monte-Carlo Beach Club, which has unveiled a whole new look. The redesign preserves the club's timeless elegance whilst introducing a more contemporary vibe. Once you've enjoyed a dip or lazed on your stripy sunlounger, you can tuck into a new Mediterranean menu at the redesigned Le Deck, or let award-winning chef Marcel Ravin take you on a 'marine garden' seafood journey at Elsa.
