Sekka

In this Issue

This issue is dedicated to sharing our rich Khaleeji heritage and how it is an important building stone in our future’s plans. We discuss traditional Arabs’ dining etiquette, and the influence of African heritage to everyday music and dancing in the region.

Features

The future is drones

While experimental drone deliveries by the likes of Amazon have grabbed the headlines, the construction industry has emerged as a key driver of the burgeoning commercial drone industry.

Raha Moharrak: Changing perceptions of Arab women one mountain at a time

On May 18, 2013, Raha made history by reaching the summit of the world’s highest mountain.

Vintage is the road for success

How can you make a fashion statement? The answer may lie in vintage retail.

Arts and Culture

The African influence on Khaleeji music

What is the reason behind this dominance? And who is this Fairuz that the laywa chanters sing about, and why is he so important?

To move forward, we’ve got to go back

Steve Jobs once said that ‘you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards’.

No place for utensils in Arabian dining etiquette

Though many may view hands-to-mouth eating as barbaric, it was and is still an important daily custom in the Arabian Gulf, the Middle East, parts of Asia, and Africa.

The Arabian paradox: Epidemic vitamin D deficiency in the land of perpetual sunshine

Sensible levels of sun exposure taken consistently can have a substantial positive impact on our quality of life.

The business of camels

“It’s the look of the camel, also the pedigree, the lineage of the camel, that give such expensive camels their value. Famous camels are well known all over the Gulf.”

Mariam Al Qubaisi: A poured heart collected in a book

We meet with Mariam Eisa Al Qubaisi, 21-year-old Emirati author of Woven Words, a collection of poems, reflections, and short stories that will be hitting bookstores in 2018.

How Arabs introduced coffee culture to the world

Legend has it that coffee berries were first discovered in Ethiopia by a shepherd who stopped to examine a coffee bush after noticing his livestock were overly animated.

The time travellers of Oman

Omani photographer Adnan Al Balushi goes on a drive across Oman, and meets with different nationals who have seen the vast changes that the Sultanate has been through in the past 50 years.