US President Donald Trump, who arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after a brief visit to Qatar, was welcomed with a traditional cultural performance featuring women flipping their hair side to side while chanting poetry.
“What a beautiful city! I love it,” Trump told reporters after witnessing the performance at Qasr Al Watan, the UAE’s presidential palace, where he was received by President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
A video of the Al-Ayyala dance to welcome the US president has now gone viral on social media, showing Trump walking through two rows of dozens of women with long dark hair and flowing white gowns.
The video captures women dramatically flipping their hair in rhythm with the drumbeats played by men behind them as the US President walks past.
All About Al-Ayyala Dance
According to UNESCO, Al-Ayyala is a traditional performance that features “chanted poetry, drum music and dance, and simulates a battle scene.” In the UAE, it is common for girls in traditional attire to lead the performance, rhythmically flipping their long hair from side to side.
The dance is usually seen during celebrations and weddings in both the UAE and Oman. The practice is considered inclusive, bringing together people of all ages, genders, and social backgrounds, according to reports.
Unlike some Middle Eastern nations like Iran, the UAE does not have laws mandating women to cover their hair. The Gulf states have gone all out to impress US President Trump during his regional visit.
In Saudi Arabia, he was welcomed with a six-fighter jet escort as Air Force One arrived on Tuesday morning. The next day in Qatar, Trump was greeted with a camel parade and a Cybertruck motorcade, along with another fighter jet escort.
According to the White House, the president has secured over $1 trillion in economic investment commitments from the Gulf nations during the trip.