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What is Al-Ayyala, the hair-flipping welcome that Donald Trump received in UAE?
Children perform a traditional Al Ayyala dance, on the day US President Donald Trump meets United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, at Qasr Al Watan, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Reuters
When Donald Trump arrived at Qasr Al Watan, the presidential palace in Abu Dhabi , the US president was welcomed with a lively and eye-catching cultural show.
Women in flowing white dresses lined the walkway, flipping their long hair from side to side in unison as the president walked alongside the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Behind them, men added to the rhythm with beating drums and traditional chants, catching Trump's intrigue.
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The welcome ceremony in UAE continues! 🇺🇸🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/sXqS1IboMN — Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) May 15, 2025
'What a beautiful city! I love it!' said the US president after taking in the cultural greeting at the presidential palace.
The traditional performance that stole the spotlight is called Al-Ayyala, a well-known dance form across the Gulf that blends music, poetry and movement to symbolise pride, unity, and heritage.
Here's everything we know about it.
A dance form honoured by UNESCO
Al-Ayyala is a traditional dance form popular in the UAE and parts of Oman. In 2014, it was recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
According to UNESCO, the performance includes poetry, drumming, and choreographed movements that symbolise a battle scene.
In a typical Al-Ayyala, girls in traditional dresses stand at the front, swaying their long hair from side to side. Behind them, two rows of men face each other, holding thin bamboo sticks that represent spears or swords.
The dance is a big part of official ceremonies and is performed at weddings, national celebrations, and cultural festivals in Oman and the UAE.
Al Ayyala dance is a big part of official ceremonies and is performed at weddings, national celebrations, and cultural festivals in Oman and the UAE. AFP
Unlike other countries in the West Asia, such as Iran, there are no laws in the UAE forcing women to cover their hair, hence they can participate in the dance form.
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Further, what makes Al-Ayyala unique is how inclusive it is. People of all ages and backgrounds can take part. The lead performer is usually someone who has inherited the role and is responsible for training others and and ensuring the transmission of this cultural heritage to future generations.
Trump's grand West Asia tour
The UAE was the final stop in Donald Trump's West Asia tour, after earlier visits to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In each of these Gulf nations, he was welcomed with grand displays of fanfare.
In Saudi Arabia, Trump's arrival was marked by a six-fighter jet escort as Air Force One landed on Tuesday morning. In Qatar, his plane was again flanked by fighter jets, and his cybertruck motorcade was greeted by a camel parade.
In Qatar, Trump's plane was flanked by fighter jets, and his cybertruck motorcade was greeted by a camel parade. AFP
He was also gifted a $400 million luxury jet by a Qatari royals, a move that drew a lot of attention.
In the UAE, authorities closed the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi to the public for the first time to welcome Trump. The Burj Khalifa was lit up in red, white, and blue — the colours of the US flag — in his honour.
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A glowing close to a historic day.
🇺🇸🇦🇪 As midnight falls over the UAE, @BurjKhalifa shines with the U.S. flag—a powerful symbol of the respect, friendship, and growing partnership between the United States and the United Arab Emirates. pic.twitter.com/x91LCzolGU — US Mission to UAE (@USAinUAE) May 15, 2025
According to Al Jazeera, Trump claimed that the deals signed during his three-nation tour, spanning tech, defence, and business, were worth $10 trillion.
'Coming to Saudi Arabia, Qatar was very important to me because of personal relationships that I had, maybe more than anything else. So it's been an amazing period of time,' he said. 'We're developing a lot of fans.'
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'People have said they've never seen anything like taking place over the last four days, in terms of investment,' Trump added. 'In terms of the kind of money coming back into the United States. And all that money, the money is a nice word, but it's really jobs. We have jobs that are at a level that we very soon will not be able to—nobody can duplicate it.'
With input from agencies
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