What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Review

  334Traveller,,Mar 4, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Fabulous experience with a fabulous organization - lovely agenda that welcomed us to learn about Ramadan, fasting and any other aspect of the faith and culture. Speakers were well prepared, informative, warm and welcoming.

  

  

  

• Wonderful "Ramadan Iftar Cultural Experience"

  okunoh2024,,Apr 8, 2024

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  私たちは、2024年4月6日の夜に開催された”Ramadan Iftar Cultural Experience”に参加して、素晴らしい時間を過ごすことができました。これは、ドバイのSheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding（SMCCU）とその近くのモスクで行われ、45名ほどが参加していました。 到着時には、スタッフの方々は、優しく招き入れてくださって、とても丁寧に対応してくださいました。質問にはすぐに対応してくださいました。 集合場所となったSMCCUは、建築されて750年ほど経っているそうです。 一番広いお部屋には、イフタール（Iftar）という断食あけのディナーの準備がされていました。床には、赤色のきれいなカーペットが敷かれ、立派な金銀色のポットに食事の用意がされていました。テーブルはなく、食事を囲みながら、床に座って食べるのが、こちらの習慣だそうです。これは、日本の畳に座って食べるのと同じで、びっくりしました。今回は、床の上に置かれたクッションの上に座って、ディナーをいただきました。いろんな国の方々と、Chiken Biryani, Veal Harees、Lamb Margogaなど、現地の料理をいただいていると、参加者の方々、スタッフの方々と、家族になったような、安心した温かい気持ちになりました。歴史のあるこちらの建物で、家族のようなおもてなしを受けられたことが一番印象に残りました。 その後、ムスリムの衣装を着る体験を初めてしました。近くのモスク（多分、the Diwan Mosque）に歩いて移動し、入り口にて、イスラムのお祈りの衣装を着せていただき、モスクの中に入ることができました。とても美しいモスクでした。一番驚いたのは、カーペットの柔らかさです。ふかふかのカーペットが敷かれていました。後で、スタッフの方に伺うと、イスラムのお祈りでは、手と額を床につけることがあるので、カーペットは額がついても痛くないように柔らかいと言うことでした。 お祈りからセンターに戻ってきてからは、Um AliやLugaimatなどのデザートとコーヒーと紅茶をいただきました。その間、スタッフの方々は、現地の方々の服装、宗教を始めとする色々な質問に丁寧に答えてくださいました。お話から、UAEの歴史も感じ取ることができました。 初めていただいたデーツのソースがかかったドーナツ(Lugaimat)と、パンプディングのようなUm Ali はとても美味しかったです。 その後の現地の衣装の着付けの時には、とても丁寧に私たちに着つけて下さいました。 ドバイの旧市街の衣食住の経験を十分に満喫した素晴らしいイベントでした。 SMCCUは既に、25年以上活動しているそうです。このセンターで活動している皆さんのお話から、ドバイの文化を次の世代にも伝えていこう、という情熱も感じました。何人もの若いスタッフが意欲的に活動していました。この大切な活動を応援したいと思いましたので、コメントさせていただきました。 皆様に、ぜひ、お薦めします！ *** We attended the "Ramadan Iftar Cultural Experience" held on the evening of April 6, 2024 and had a wonderful time! The event was held at the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding （SMCCU）in Dubai and a nearby mosque, with around 45 participants. Upon arrival, the staff welcomed us kindly and answered to our questions with care. The meeting place, SMCCU was built about 750 years ago. In the largest room, The fast-breaking dinner called Iftar was prepared. A clean red carpet was spread on the floor, and food was prepared in fine gold and silver pots. We learnt their custom: There is no tables, and people eat while sitting on the floor surrounded by food. This was similar to a Japanese custom, ie, eating while sitting on a Japanese tatami mat, which surprised me. This time, we sat on cushions on the floor and had dinner. We had local cuisine such as Chiken Biryani, Veal Harees, and Lamb Margoga with people from various countries, I felt at ease and warm as if I had become family with the participants and staff. What impressed me most was that I was treated like family in this historic building. After that, I had my first experience wearing Muslim clothes. We walked to a nearby mosque (probably the Diwan Mosque), and at the entrance, we were dressed in Islamic prayer clothes and entered the mosque. The mosque was very beautiful. What surprised me the most was the softness of the carpet. There was a fluffy carpet. Later, when I asked the staff, they said that in Islamic prayers, people put their hands and foreheads on the floor, so the carpet was so soft that it wouldn't hurt even if they touched their foreheads. After returning to the center from prayer, we had desserts such as Um Ali and Lugaimat, as well as coffee and tea. During that time, the staff kindly answered various questions such as the local people's clothing, religion, and more. I was able to get a sense of the history of the UAE from the talk. The donuts (Lugaimat) with date sauce and Um Ali, which is like bread pudding, were especially delicious to me. Later, when we tried the local clothes, the staff dressed us with care. It was a wonderful event where we fully enjoyed the food and culture of Dubai's Old City. SMCCU has been operating for over 25 years. From the stories of staff at this center, I felt passion for passing on Dubai’s and UAE's culture to the next generation, and young staff members were enthusiastic and active. I would like to support this important activity, so I wrote this comment. I highly recommend this cultural experience and SMCCU to everyone!

  

  

  

• Excellent Tour for Teenagers

  louisebrunton,,Oct 26, 2023

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Our 3 groups did both the Cultural Lunch and Creek Tour. Led by Yousef & Omar who were both engaging, patient and knowledgeable. Our group were students aged 15 from Mexico and they all enjoyed both parts of the day.

• A great cultural experience

  chtronkopuc,,Apr 17, 2022

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We had a very pleasant evening with the iftar ceremony. Our presenter was a young lady, very kind and talkative, she really captivated us with her presentation. She answered very honestly to all our questions. The iftar meal was copious and excellent, we were even offered to take away the remaining food. The visit of the mosque was also a rare experience for me as non-Muslim.