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Sports and Culture - dda
Sports & Culture
Sports Regulator
The Dubai Sports Council (DSC) is the primary government body responsible for managing and regulating sports in Dubai. Established to develop and promote sports and physical activities, the DSC plays a pivotal role in planning, coordinating, and supervising various sports initiatives, events, and facilities within the emirate. By collaborating with government entities, sports clubs, educational institutions, and private organizations, the council creates a comprehensive sports infrastructure, ensuring sports facilities are accessible and available for Dubai's residents and visitors.
Additionally, the DSC supports the growth of professional sports by fostering local talent and organizing international sporting events, elevating the city's profile as a global sports destination.
Public Sports Facilities
Dubai offers a variety of public sports facilities that cater to the diverse interests of its residents and visitors. These facilities provide opportunities for individuals to engage in various physical activities and sports without necessarily committing to private memberships or exclusive clubs. These facilities provide jogging and cycling tracks and courts for basketball, badminton, volleyball, and diving. They include:
Water Sports
There are several free public watersports-friendly beaches in Dubai where you can splash around without paying entry fees. Some beaches provide rentals of watersports equipment for kitesurfing, paddle‑boarding, kayaking, volleyball courts and outdoor gym.
Traditional sports
Dubai has a rich heritage of traditional sports rooted in its desert life. Traditional sports in Dubai reflect people's way of living by showcasing the skills, values, and environment that shaped Emirati life in the desert. Activities like camel racing, falconry, and dhow sailing originated from the daily practices of survival, hunting, and travel. camel racing, falconry, horse racing, dhow sailing, and Saluki dog racing. Traditional sports events and facilities include:
Sporting Events in Dubai
Dubai hosts a variety of prestigious sporting events throughout the year, attracting international athletes and spectators. Some key sporting events include:
Dubai World Cup: An annual horse racing event held at the Meydan Racecourse, featuring some of the world's best thoroughbreds competing for the lucrative prize purse.
Dubai Desert Classic: A prestigious European Tour golf tournament held annually at the Emirates Golf Club, with top professional golfers competing for the championship title.
Dubai Tennis Championships: An annual professional tennis tournament, hosting both the men's ATP and women's WTA events, with top international players participating in singles and doubles competitions.
UAE Tour: A professional cycling race that spans across various emirates, including Dubai, with world-class cyclists competing in multiple stages.
Dubai Marathon: A popular annual long-distance running event that attracts thousands of participants, including professional athletes and amateur runners, with different race categories like the full marathon, half marathon, and 10 km.
DP World Tour Championship: The season-ending golf tournament of the European Tour, held at Jumeirah Golf Estates, featuring the top players competing for the coveted trophy.
Dubai Rugby Sevens: A popular annual rugby sevens tournament, featuring international teams competing in a fast-paced, shortened version of rugby union, along with an invitational tournament for local and regional clubs.
Dubai International Boat Show: A prominent annual event showcasing luxury yachts, marine equipment, and water sports, accompanied by various competitions and demonstrations.
Culture & Arts
Culture and Art activities in Dubai are primarily managed and regulated by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), a government body established to promote and preserve the city's rich cultural heritage. The authority is responsible for fostering an environment that encourages creativity and innovation, supporting local talent and artists, and developing a thriving cultural scene.
Dubai Culture operates various cultural institutions, including museums, libraries, art galleries, and heritage sites, to showcase the city's history, art, and traditions. Additionally, the authority organizes and supports various cultural events, festivals, and workshops to engage the community and create a vibrant cultural landscape for residents and visitors alike.
Food in Dubai
Dubai has a rich blend of traditional Emirati cuisine and international flavors, reflecting its diverse population and cultural heritage. Traditional dishes often feature ingredients like rice, meat (especially lamb and chicken), dates, saffron, and spices.
Common types of bread include Khameer, which is made from yeast, flour and powdered milk. It is sprinkled with sesame seeds and served with cheese or honey. Another type of bread is Chabab, which is made with flour, eggs, sugar and spices like cardamom and saffron. Other types of bread include Regag and Khobz Mohalla.
Popular local meals include Al Harees (slow-cooked wheat and meat), Al Machboos (spiced rice with meat or fish), and Luqaimat (sweet dumplings drizzled with date syrup). Dubai Kitchen include other meals like Aseeda, Balaleet and Mathrooba.
Welcoming the guest with qahwa (coffee) and dates is one of the most common traditions of hospitality in Dubai and Emirati Society. Local coffee comes blended with cardamom and saffron. Coffee is served in small handle-less cups called finjans.
Handicrafts
Handicrafts such as pottery, weaving and embroidery have been part of the Dubai culture since citizens settled in Dubai. In fact, pottery can be traced back to the Paleolithic Age (6000 B.C. - 3500 B.C.). Handicrafts in Dubai Heritage include weaving, embroidery, potter, Al Khoos, Dukhoon making, Garagir Handicrafts, and silversmith.
Clothing
The official and traditional attire for men in Dubai consists of the kandoora, ghutra, and agal, while women traditionally wear abayas. The kandoora, also known as the dishdasha, is an ankle-length, loose-fitting garment typically made of white cotton. The ghutra is a white headscarf that covers the head and is secured in place by the agal, a black cord. Originally, this attire was used to protect the face from the harsh desert environment.
Women in Dubai wear an abaya – a long, black flowing light coat over their clothing. A black scarf called a shayla is often draped over the head.
Public holidays
Public holidays in the UAE encompass religious, national, and cultural holidays. These holidays include Islamic observances such as Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha, national celebrations like UAE National Day, and globally recognized events such as New Year's Day, reflecting the community’s rich heritage and diversity.
According to the UAE Cabinet Resolution No. (27) of 2024, official public holidays include:
New Year Day: 1 January (1 day)
Eid Al Fitr: From 1 to 3 Shawwal (3 days)
Arafah day and Eid Al Adha (Feast of Sacrifice): From 9 to 12 Dhu al Hijjah (4 days)
Hijri New Year: 1 Muharram (1 day)
Prophet’s birthday: 12 Rabi’ Awwal (1 day)
National Day: from 2 to 3 December 2024 (2 days)
*Note: Islamic holidays are determined according to moon sighting.
Cultural and Art Centers
Heritage Sites and Places
Libraries
Museums
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