To mark the 15th day of the month of Sha’aban, the Residency and Foreigners' Affairs Department in Al Ain organized a traditional celebration under the locally known name of “Haq Al Laila”. The celebration aims to promote the national identity and acquaint children with the heritage of the past with a view to keep this tradition alive in their minds. Held by the Residency and Foreigners' Affairs Department in Al Ain at its headquarters, the celebration was attended by a number of children and children of the department’s employees.
Colonel Khalifa Matar Balquba' Al Humairi, Director of the Residency and Foreigners' Affairs Department in Al Ain, said that this initiative is part of the initiatives organized by Al Ain Residency to enable social participation with a humanitarian touch. It also embodies its quest to encourage the humanitarian relations between the various segments of society and the department and its employees, by taking part in the social and humanitarian activities.
He explained that this traditional popular celebration is an opportunity for both adults and children to express their happiness for the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, which fosters social bonding and collaboration and reflects the true meanings of the holy month.
As part of the celebration, the traditional village of Khatam Al Shukla hosted a traditional presentation, featuring traditional handicrafts and tools that reminded attendees of the simple life of UAE people of old and the traditional games that children used to play. This presentation aimed at acquainting customers of the Residency and Foreigners' Affairs Department in Al Ain, as well as employees and their children with the cultural and traditional heritage of the old Emirati society.
The children also presented special traditional songs to the employees and customers, which contributed to spreading joy at the department. Then they roamed the various sections of the department offering “Haq Al Laila” gifts to employees and customers, who interacted significantly with the initiative. At the end of the celebration, gifts were distributed to the participating children and children of the employees, who posed for commemorative pictures with the Director, officers, employees and customers.