With days left for the second edition of ‘Eid in Dubai’ to begin, select venues in Dubai are preparing to welcome visitors with the traditional Diyafat and Fuwallat Al Eid – a custom that is part of Arabian hospitality in greeting guests.
A combination of the Islamic etiquette of sharing and Arabian hospitality, Diyafat and Fuwallat-Al-Eid are centered on welcoming guests on the days of Eid-Al-Fitr. Although the term is used to generally mean ‘a platter of sweets and dishes’ to welcome guests at home on Eid, the concept encompasses the spirit of giving and sharing in the society as a whole. It is this spirit that the Dubai Shopping Festival Office would like to revive and highlight during ‘Eid in Dubai’.
Suhaila Gobash, Events Manager of Dubai Shopping Festival Office, an agency under the Dubai Department of Economic Development said, “Diyafat and Fuwallat-Al-Eid are an indispensable part of Emarati culture and we wanted to showcase this tradition to the multi-national residents in Dubai apart from welcoming them and visitors to experience ‘Eid in Dubai’ is more than just sweets and coffee and goes beyond in highlighting the hospitality that is an integral part of the Emarati way of life.”
Visitors to Dubai Festival City, Airport Expo Dubai, passengers arriving at Terminals 1, 2, and 3 of Dubai International Airport, and theatre goers to CineStar in Mall of the Emirates will be welcomed with fuwalla delights during Eid Al Fitr.
The fuwalla or ‘platter’ is usually placed at the majlis of every home where an assortment of numerous delicacies are spread out for guests. Traditional food such as harees, a mixture of wheat and meat, is one of the highlights of the fuwalla, in addition to rice and meat, Arabic sweets, pastries, and the Arabic coffee kahwah. The atmosphere created by organizing fuwalla is one of celebration and its sharing with people in the community. ‘Eid in Dubai’ will focus on this concept to create a unique ambience for visitors and residents in the city during Eid.
