Done by: basma balfaqeeh & shereena al sayegh

1. Done by: basmabalfaqeeh & shereena al sayegh

2. Introduction • Rags to riches is a story written by Mohammed Al Fahim. It’s a story about how people lived their lives a long time ago. • Topics we will talk about : • The simple lives of the Bedouins • The food they ate • The shopping they did

3. Simple lives' of the Bedouins • How it began: • In 1946 Abu Dhabi’s population nearly reached to 6 thousand people • Mid 1950’s population dropped because of the collapse of pearl industry • Also many citizens emigrated to Al Ain, Liwa and other parts of the gulf

4. How they lived: • Tribes kept to their own camps which were separated from other tribes • Harsh weather made people hesitant to live in Abu Dhabi • Women and children moved either to Al Ain or Liwa. While men were pearl diving. • Barely anyone stayed in Abu Dhabi because of lack of fresh water, high humidity and poor living conditions. • People wore the same clothes in winter as in summer. • Winter time the whole family huddled in one corner to stay warm throughout the night. • In summer they used to sleep outside for cold breeze.

5. How they transported: • Long distance trips were made on the back of a camel • Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah were reached by a boat • It took approximately 7 days to travel between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain or Liwa. • Took 3-4 days to reach Dubai • Usually people travelled in a caravan of 20 - 30 camels for security and companionship • Until late 1950’s no one owned a car, except a few ruling family members

6. Their houses: • Made out of palm fronds, wealthier families lived in clay houses and Sheikh lived in a palace • Houses were grouped together for security, companionship and warmth during the cooler months • People built houses away from the sea to protect them from the cold wind and high humidity in summer • Mats were used as flooring in the tents and huts • Woven mats were used for sitting, sleeping and insulating the tents. Also they were formed into roofs for the huts.

7. Shopping • The souk had 2 rows of shops facing each other, about 30 shops in total • The size of each shop was about nine square meters • Some shops were made of mud and some out of palm fronds • Most sold the same goods; usually sold rice, flour, sugar and coffee also textiles • They used to tailor at home since they didn’t have ready made clothes • There were no merchandise that interests children, such as: toys, sweets and biscuits • 1963 some shopkeepers brought sweets, biscuits, dried powder orange juice and marbles for playing • Various shops started selling lemonade in bottles

8. Food • Cooking was done over a wood fire, which was a chore to women • Finding fuel for the fire wasn’t easy to find being in the desert • Gathered any drift wood they found from the sea shore • They added the wood to flammable material gathered from the few date palms in the area • Also brought wood from the Bedouins • Mostly ate rice, fish, yogurt and dates • Rice was imported from India through Dubai • Dates were imported from Bahrain

9. They didn’t eat meat since they needed the animals for the milk • They never ate fish for dinner because it will rot • Al Ain and Liwa never ate fresh fish, they ate it dry • Men and women ate separately • Liquid refreshments consisted of tea and Arabic coffee • If needed they borrowed food from neighbors if a visitor came