Falconry, an integral part of desert life, practiced originally for purely practical reasons, i.e. the necessity to supplement a diet of dates, milk and bread, developed into a major sport enjoyed by rich and poor alike. Hunting parties originally pursued their quarry on horseback or camel but powerful four-wheel drive vehicles are fast replacing traditional modes of transport. It is difficult to supplant the captivating image of a desert horseman, arm outstretched to support a motionless bird of prey; man, bird and horse at one in dignity and bearing, with the lurching fume-filled presence of the cross-country truck.
The two main species of falcon kept in the UAE are the saker and the peregrine. The trapping and training of falcons requires skill, patience and a considerable amount of bravery. The potential danger, of course, is part of the attraction, as is the opportunity to have a close-up view of the power, grace and beauty of a falcon in flight.
SKIN decoration in the Arab world is practised mostly by women and takes the form of designs on hands and feet using henna, which fades away after a few weeks.
The complex patterns seen throughout the Middle East are normally achieved using stencils which can be bought cheaply in the souqs (markets).
Increasingly, street artists in resorts provide henna decoration of varying quality for visiting tourists of both sexes.
