After the Corona pandemic disrupted their plans to launch a company specialized in tourist guide services
Two Emiratis launch the "Dalili" platform to introduce visitors to the local culture
Al-Sumaiti and Al-Obaidli used to organize orientation tours for the delegations visiting the Knowledge Authority in Dubai.
From the source
Ahmed Al-Sumaiti: "The profession of tourist guide requires extensive skills, experience and knowledge."
Abdullah Al-Obaidly: "The initiative aims to rediscover the UAE through the eyes of its citizens."
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Two Emirati tour guides launched the online platform "@ Mydeleel", with the aim of shedding light on the cultural and tourism landscape of the UAE, and recounting its rich history and cultural heritage in an innovative way.
Ahmed Al-Sumaiti and Abdullah Al-Obaidly, employees of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai, used to organize orientation tours for delegations that visited the authority over the years.
During their work, they gained extensive experience in this field, and later decided to apply and obtain a "tour guide" license from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing in Dubai, "Dubai Tourism".
After obtaining the license, they decided to establish a private company to provide tourist guidance services, and began work and search for "weaknesses" or aspects that were not sufficiently highlighted in the tourism guide profession, but the "Covid-19" pandemic disrupted plans to launch the company later. .
passion
Al-Sumaiti told Emirates Today: “We are passionate and eager to convey the correct and documented image of Emirati culture, its customs and traditions,” indicating that “the responsibility for preserving heritage rests with individuals as well, as we look to fulfill this role to the fullest through our activity.” .
He added that "the tourism guide profession requires skills, experience and extensive knowledge of the country's history, including museums and heritage sites, as well as the life, customs and traditions of Emiratis and the details of daily life."
Al-Sumaiti continued: “By virtue of our work, we gained some experiences that were later strengthened with obtaining a tourist guide license, and we began establishing a private company that provides guidance services, but the (Covid-19) pandemic has disrupted our plans.” On the (Facebook) and (Instagram) sites, which met with wide interaction ».
A tourist destination
Al-Sumaiti pointed out that «the UAE is one of the most important tourist destinations in the world, attracting millions of visitors, and we seek through our work to introduce them to the details of Emirati life and the customs and traditions of Emiratis».
And he indicated that «tourism is not limited to resorts, facilities and parks only, but extends to include various aspects of life by introducing visitors to the cultural and living aspect of the local population as well as history and heritage», pointing to the diversity of the natural environment in the UAE, including desert, sea, oases and others.
Al-Sumaiti explained that, "in addition to historical monuments and archaeological collections, there are inherited traditions and customs that deserve to be narrated to all, especially visitors, including local arts, crafts, folk celebrations and traditional industries."
He said, “The council, for example, is an essential part of the life of Emiratis in its various aspects, bringing together community members to discuss various issues, and we seek to introduce visitors to them as they contribute to strengthening national identity, as well as preserving national heritage, as well as organizing field trips for them to farms to learn about Close to the lives of Emiratis ».
Innovative way
For his part, Al-Obaidly said that “despite the efforts made to promote cultural and heritage tourism in the Emirates, we have noticed weaknesses in promoting them among visitors and tourists, and we will work through our project to display it in an innovative way so that it reaches a greater number of interested people”, indicating that “ There is a story and a story behind the details of our lives that we seek to tell them in the right way. ”
Al-Obaidli added, "We choose a specific topic every week to focus on, such as traditional markets, currencies, local dishes, and traditional dress," pointing out that "the heritage also includes the arts, songs, and the performance of folk tales as well as historical figures."
Folklore
Al-Obaidli asserted that "the popular heritage is an important part of the history and culture of peoples."
He said, "We also seek to involve visitors in festivals, events and local initiatives, to inform those interested in the artistic, cultural and heritage scene in the Emirates, and to present them in an appropriate way for visitors," noting that "the initiative aims to rediscover the Emirates through the eyes of its citizens."
A window into Emirati life
Ahmed Al-Sumaiti and Abdullah Al-Obaidli - two school friends who graduated together at Zayed University to later complete their master's studies - aspire to introduce visitors to the Emirati heritage and the beauty of the local culture by providing a window on Emirati life, and by providing tourists with documented information on customs and traditions.
Al-Obaidli said that they received several requests from volunteers to participate in the electronic platform project "Dalili", indicating that plans to launch their company are still in place when conditions are appropriate, explaining that they depend on self-financing regarding the electronic platform.
• Al-Sumaiti and Al-Obaidly hold a "tour guide" license from Dubai Tourism.
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