Emiratis thrilled to swap jerseys for Spanish football legend Kandura on UAE’s 52nd National Day.
Emirates Football Club shared pictures of the legend sporting a kandura, headgear and traditional Bisht coat.
In August this year, former Barcelona and Spanish midfielder Ras Al Khaimah caused a stir in the sporting world by committing to a one-year contract with the Emirates club.
‘A beautiful symbol of tolerance’
UAE national Saeed Alremithi said, “The UAE’s tolerance and openness to embrace different cultures and traditions is impressive. The way people visit or live here is wonderful, especially when a man of Iniesta’s stature wears it, it shows respect for local customs and traditions.”
“It shows foreigners exploring local customs, trying on traditional clothing, tasting different cuisines and immersing themselves in our rich culture that makes us proud.”
Born and raised in Al Ain, his affinity for Al Ain Football Club is natural.
“I like the Al Ain football team since childhood because I’m from there but I really like FC Barcelona,” added Alremithy.
“Kandura is a beautiful symbol of tolerance, representing the country’s peaceful nature and welcoming attitude towards others. It is remarkable how these traditional elements can embody strong values that are enhanced when a public figure, who is not an Emirati, wears them, especially on national days.”
He added that Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup last year brought significant global attention to the Gulf region. “It has stimulated discussions about sports, infrastructure, and cultural exchange in the Middle East.”
Echoing the same sentiment, Fahad Mohammad Abdul Rehman, a UAE citizen from Dubai, said, “Like many others in the country, I follow football. I used to go to Al Ain whenever there was a match. When I saw someone like Andrea Iniesta wearing our national costume I felt very proud.”
“I always feel happy when people from other nationalities wear our traditional kandura. It also shows that the dress is very popular. I always take a picture or video of such people and post it on social media.”
She explains that sharing and celebrating cultural clothing is a great way to appreciate diversity and showcase the beauty of different traditions.
“The fact that people of different nationalities embrace and wear the kandura speaks volumes about its appeal and significance. It is also a meaningful way to show global appreciation of our traditional clothing.”
Show respect
UAE National Malak Alfarsi said the only condition for wearing the national dress is to show unwavering respect for it.
He said, “It is essential to respect our cultural or traditional dress. It is disrespectful to wear it in inappropriate settings, such as bars or places not associated with tradition. Doing so undermines our values. However, on special occasions where our culture is positively celebrated, it elevates our identity and status.”
