More than 50,000 people attended the inaugural Emirates Loves Palestine event at Dubai Exhibition Centre, Expo City Dubai, on 29 August, gathering to mark Palestinian culture through food, music, folk arts, and heritage displays.
The event was held in the presence of Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence. Gulf News reported that Sheikh Nahyan said: ‘This gathering confirms that the relations between the United Arab Emirates and Palestine are deeply rooted and ever renewing relations, resting on firm fraternal bonds between the two peoples, and on a shared belief in the values of peace, coexistence, and human solidarity.’
The event was announced by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) ahead of the opening. It was organised by Emirates Loves and drew Palestinians, Emiratis, and residents of various nationalities.
Memories of Jerusalem at the Emirates Loves Palestine event
Among those who attended was Aisha, 80, who grew up in Jerusalem. Standing before a recreation of Qubbat Al-Sakhrah, the Dome of the Rock, she became emotional and began recounting memories of her childhood to her daughters, son, and grandchildren.
She remembered visiting the compound of Al Aqsa Mosque in the evenings with her sister, and watching her brother go inside to pray. Her sister has since passed away. ‘I was around 16 years and my sister was 18,’ she said.
For Aisha, who has returned to Jerusalem several times over the years, the recreation was not simply a display. It brought back her parents, her siblings, and a childhood she shared with them in the city.
Families, traditions, and a taste of home
Abeer AlRamahi, Ambassador of the State of Palestine to the UAE, thanked the UAE for hosting the event. ‘Today is about Palestinian culture, our traditions, and our heritage, but it is also about Palestinians coming together and remembering the things that connect us to home,’ she said. ‘It feels like Eid, a day of celebration, happiness and togetherness.’
Across the exhibition hall, visitors wore the black-and-white keffiyeh and traditional Palestinian dresses decorated with tatreez embroidery. Palestinian food stalls drew long queues, and a group of musicians performing on traditional instruments drew crowds to the performance area, with some visitors joining in to dance.
Rawand attended with her daughter Jehan, both dressed in embroidered traditional outfits. ‘My daughter has learned about our culture. She has not got a chance to visit Palestine yet,’ Rawand said. ‘The atmosphere made us feel as if we are experiencing a small part of Palestine in Dubai.’
Siblings Waleed, Zaid and Zeina recognised the replica Jerusalem landmark as soon as they entered. Their father Basim said visiting and praying at Al Aqsa Mosque remained a family dream. Waleed, looking at the recreated dome, said: ‘I wonder how beautiful the real monument will be.’
Abdullah Al Shami brought his young son Yusuf to the event for the same reason many parents gave: to show children Palestinian clothes, food, and traditions in person rather than only describing them at home. ‘Events like these help our children understand more about where we come from,’ Al Shami said.
The Gulf News reported the event brought together multiple generations under one roof. WAM described it as the inaugural edition of what is expected to become a recurring celebration of Palestinian heritage in the UAE.
