Watch: Sheikh Hamdan rides abra on Eid Al Adha weekend
It's not every day that you see a member of the Dubai royal family aboard a public transport. As the city continues to celebrate the Eid Al Adha long weekend, Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum surprised followers by taking a ride on an abra and sharing a glimpse of it with his followers on social media.
Sheikh Hamdan, popularly known as Fazza, posted a video of his abra ride on his Instagram story, much to the delight of his 17 million followers.
He seemed to be traveling across the Dubai creek to the Al Seef market in the abra, one of the oldest forms of transport in the city. He also shared visuals of spices and traditional food items being sold at the market in old Dubai.
The Deputy Prime Minister of the UAE often regales his followers on social media with snapshots from his life. He has been sharing snippets from his Eid Al Adha celebrations with his family, especially his kids.
Watch the video here:
In one heartwarming post, Sheikh Hamdan is seen with his youngest child, daughter Hind, who was born on March 22 this year.
The Crown Prince is actively involved in Dubai's public transport initiatives, including expanding the Dubai Tram, promoting sustainable transport, and developing new infrastructure like flying taxis.
The fourth generation of traditional abras were unveiled in February this year by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in a move that aims to upgrade the city's marine transport network.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Khaleej Times
22 minutes ago
- Khaleej Times
Hajj 2025: UAE leaders congratulate Saudi King on successful season
As the wrapping up of Hajj 2025 season nears, UAE leaders have expressed their congratulations to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz on the success of organising the pilgrims' journey to the Muslim holy sites. This year, more than 1.6 million Muslims are performing the sacred pilgrimage, with majority of them from outside Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a message to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to congratulate him on the successful season. Sheikh Mohamed expressed "his sincere congratulations on the success of the Hajj season this year, which was achieved by the grace of Allah the Almighty, and thanks to the generous care of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, his wise government and its institutions, to ensure that pilgrims can perform their rituals in tranquillity and safety". Similar messages were sent by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ajman, Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, and Sheikh Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Umm Al Quwain also congratulated the Saudi king on the occasion. After a year that saw fatalities because of heat during Hajj, the kingdom has imposed higher penalties this year for anyone attempting to perform Hajj without a permit, including fines of up to 20,000 Saudi Riyals, arrest, and deportation. The kingdom also suspended short-term visas for 14 countries earlier this year, and security personnel can be seen across holy sites in Makkah.
Arabian Business
34 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
Dubai traffic to ease: RTA begins road improvements at 40 key locations for summer 2025
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has begun traffic improvements at 40 locations across the emirate, with work scheduled between June and September 2025. The programme covers 22 streets, 9 school zones, more than 5 development areas, and internal roads in Tolerance District, Al Khawaneej 2, and Nad Al Sheba. RTA has timed the work during summer holidays to reduce disruption to traffic flow whilst maintaining safety standards at all sites. RTA launches summer road works across Dubai schools and development areas 'RTA remains committed to enhancing Dubai's road infrastructure to keep pace with the ongoing urban expansion and economic development. These efforts form part of a broader strategy to improve traffic flow, road safety, journey times, and connectivity between residential, educational, and development areas across the city,' the Dubai Media Office (DMO) said in a statement. The next phase includes traffic enhancements at Jumeirah Village Circle towards Hessa Street, Ras Al Khor Road, Al Thanya Street, and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud Street. Work will also take place on Al Meydan Street, Al Sa'ada Street, Al Asayel Street, and the junction of Al Wasl Street with Al Manara Street. RTA is undertaking roadworks at nine school zone locations to improve traffic efficiency and road safety around educational institutions. The work includes upgrades at the Al Warqa 1 school complex and construction of a bus entrance at GEMS School in Al Warqa 3. Access and exit points around The English College in Al Safa 1 on Sheikh Zayed Road will be widened, and a signal-controlled pedestrian crossing will be installed on Al Seedaf Street in Al Barsha 1. These measures target congestion during morning and afternoon peak hours. RTA is implementing traffic solutions at five development zones in response to population growth and economic expansion. The authority will construct a direct access route to Al Muhaisnah labour camps from Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and upgrade Al Mustaqbal Street (Brookfield) for access to residential communities. Connectivity between Al Khail Road and Al Asayel Street via Al Marabea' Street will be improved, along with enhancements at Nad Al Hamar junction near Lootah Mosque. New parking facilities will serve Zayed Educational Complex in Oud Al Muteena 1. RTA will complete internal roadworks in Tolerance District, Al Khawaneej 2, Jebel Ali Industrial 1, Nad Al Sheba, and Al Warqa.
Khaleej Times
an hour 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.
