DOHA: Shops selling metal swords used in the traditional Al Arada dance (sword dance) are doing brisk business ahead of the Qatar National Day falling on December 18, with growing demand from citizens, especially children and youngsters.
Sword dance is the most popular form of traditional dance in Qatar that is performed on festive occasions including weddings and tribal festivals.
The metal swords are on offer in different shapes, sizes and quality with the prices ranging from QR900 to a whopping QR200,000. The most expensive are the swords made of gold and those studded with precious stones.
There are lighter varieties for children and youngsters. Most customers prefer to get them made locally as per their specifications, although there are imported swords available in the market.
“I have a traditional sword that is 50 years old which is used during our tribal festivals. Now I have come to buy one for my son,” a local Arabic daily quoted a citizen, as saying.
Khalifa Ghaith Al Kuwari, owner of a shop said, the outlet was all set to meet the National Day rush.
There are different types of swords in the market carrying different names and the most popular is Hilali, the crescent-shaped one, as the name indicates, he added.
“There is a good demand as the National Day is approaching and the prices vary depending on the type, starting from a minimum QR900. Those made of silver and gold and swords studded with precious stones cost more,” said Al Kuwari.
Another shop owner said he was working hard to deliver the orders on time. “There are Chinese-made swords in the market but they are not comparable with the locally made ones, which can be easily identified. We have our own workshop and it takes one to two weeks to make a new sword,” he said.
A small size ordinary sword is priced QR1,200 but the bigger ones could cost between QR2,000 and QR2,600. There are swords made of gold costing as high as QR200,000, he said.
Like those who are rushing to buy new swords there are others who approach the workshops for maintenance of their old swords.
Meanwhile, tailoring shops are working day and night for weeks to meet the growing orders for stitching dresses of enthusiastic citizens to take part in the parades on the National Day.
Youths, especially girls, are surfing the social websites for new designs posted by fellow citizens to prepare their dresses accordingly for a different look on the National Day, said a tailor.
“Teenaged girls come to my shop holding papers with the new designs of traditional attires copied from the websites ordering to get stitched similar ones,” said Ahmad Riyaz, Manager of a tailoring shop.
The ready-to-wear garment shops are full of dresses for the National Day, but these girls want to look different so they order the selected designs for stitching, Al Arab reported yesterday.
“The outlets showcase very beautiful designs of dresses for the National Day but I want to put on very special one on this day, therefore I copied a nice design from social website,” said Rahaf, a student of Senior Secondary School.
“The design that I have selected is not complicated, but I want to add on it a flag and map of Qatar with the word Qatar in two colours - white and Onabi (maroon),” she added.
The readymade dresses for the National Day are available at the outlets at prices ranging from QR180 to QR250 for women and from QR120 to QR150 for men, said Rahaf. The Peninsula
