It coincided with the celebrations of the announcement of the UAE

"Abu Dhabi Party" culminated in Umm Kulthum's Arab tour of the war effort

• The late Sheikh Zayed upon receiving Umm Kulthum.

  The National Archives

• Umm Kulthum in one of the streets of Abu Dhabi after the announcement of the establishment of the State of the Union.

  The National Archives

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The book "Umm Kulthum and the Years of War Effort" by researcher Karim Gamal, which was recently published by "Tanmia" House, sheds light on Umm Kulthum's tour to support the will to overcome the 1967 defeat by collecting the proceeds of concerts she performed for this purpose on an Egyptian, Arab and international level.

While the previous episode in which the book was presented in "Emirates Today" touched on Umm Kulthum's concert in Paris, which had global resonance, we continue in this episode "Umm Kulthum's tour in Abu Dhabi", which acquired a special meaning to coincide with the occasion, announcing the establishment of the United Arab Emirates In 1971, on the one hand, and because the two concerts that the tour witnessed, were the conclusion of the Arab Calthomial Tour that extended from Morocco to the Arabian Gulf.

The Kalthum party came in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, days before the announcement of the establishment of the United Arab Emirates on December 2 of the same year, after arranging it, during the visit of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, to Cairo on the 13 April 1971 as part of an Arab tour that preceded the declaration of the state, to announce its association with Arab issues.

Umm Kulthum, as the book went on, welcomed her invitation to hold the party, stressing her appreciation for the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul, and for his efforts towards Arab issues.

The book provides qualitative preparations in the context of the limited time for the first concert in Abu Dhabi, which ended only four hours before the curtain was raised, according to the Cairo newspaper, Al-Ahram, where “higher orders were issued in coordination between the ministries to prepare a temporary theater capable of accommodating the event.” And where "it was agreed with the management of Al Ahly Club (currently the UAE Al Wahda Club), to build a temporary theater with a capacity of 4000 seats on an area of ​​4800 meters."

The book notes that "the Supreme Committee supervising celebrations in the UAE decided, in light of Umm Kulthum's huge intimate reception, to open the second ceremony to the wide public, and to provide an opportunity for the people of the Gulf to interact with Umm Kulthum in support of the war effort."

Prior to the ceremony, Umm Kulthum sent a message through the Emirati newspaper, Al Ittihad, in which she thanked the UAE government and people for the warm welcome that it found on this precious land, noting that “the establishment of the UAE adds to the Arab nation a new asset in Strength and support.

The book refers to the most prominent event in the interaction of the Emirati audience with Umm Kulthum, "where thousands flocked to the theater of the Ministry of Defense" and "the main gate was broken and human masses rushed into the theater", and "within minutes from the start of the concert, the hall was filled with more than 5,000 people." , although the capacity of the theater was not able to accommodate more than 4000 spectators,” and “everyone who realized that it was a moment in a lifetime, spread out on the sides of the theater, and some sat in the separating spaces, as other numbers crowded around the theater.”

The book also provides details of Umm Kulthum’s reception at “Al-Manhal Palace”, where the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, welcomed her. India, similar to the traditional Indian necklace (Satalada). Umm Kulthum also attended the moment of the raising of the flag of the United Arab Emirates for the first time, and congratulated the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who ordered it to be raised, saying: “After the great Arab unity flag. ».

Abu Dhabi's concerts came as the closing station of the Arab Calthulian tour, which included Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Sudan, Kuwait and Lebanon.

Morocco trip

The highlight of Umm Kulthum’s trip to Morocco, for example, was the announcement of the last days of celebrations as an official holiday in the country, and Umm Kulthum was given a green candle filled with gold threads from a fan, and Umm Kulthum carved a ram given to her by the Moroccan king on the occasion of her presence at the time of Eid al-Adha. , in the house of a poor driver, and the Moroccan masses performed a “bridal party” for Umm Kulthum, which made her laugh at the unexpected irony. The young star at the time, Adel Imam.

In Tunisia, Umm Kulthum's tour played a role in hydrating Egyptian-Tunisian relations, which witnessed tensions during that period, and Tunisians collected 280,000 carnations for her from all over the country.

In Sudan, as the book indicates, there was a fear that the audience would not interact for a musical reason, which is the Sudanese tendency for the quintet, but the Sudanese stayed up with it until the morning, and Sudanese artists presented it with a miniature model of the sesame instrument.

Long trip

In Libya, the trip lasted for 12 days, starting in March 1969, and the Libyans set up a pavilion for 7,000 people in the field of works.

In Lebanon, the Kulthum concerts in Beirut and Baalbek were marked by the presence of an audience from various Arab countries. It also witnessed the presence of Fairouz and the Rahbani brothers to the party and their ascent to Umm Kulthum's room, making this presence the talk of the Arab street.

Umm Kulthum's tour in Abu Dhabi gained a special meaning because it coincided with the occasion of the announcement of the establishment of the United Arab Emirates in 1971 on the one hand, and because the two concerts that the tour witnessed were the conclusion of the Arab Kulthum tour that extended from Morocco to the Arabian Gulf.

In Tunisia, Umm Kulthum's tour contributed to the hydration of Egyptian-Tunisian relations, which were tense at that period, and Tunisians collected 280,000 carnations for her from all over the country.

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