São Paulo – The Consulate of the United Arab Emirates and the Economic and Commercial Office of Egypt in São Paulo will join the Arab culture festival “A Day in Arabia” at mall Shopping D this weekend. Egypt and the UAE will have one stand each during the event, on the mall’s terrace (parking area – G4), with a view of north side São Paulo. The festival will feature Arab dance, music and cuisine, and refugees selling typical items out of stands. Almost 9,500 have flagged the festival as interested on its Facebook page.
The UAE stand will offer dates, snacks and Arab coffee, books in Arabic and Portuguese (40 titles available), Arab magazines on cooking and varieties, and even henna tattoos. Everything will be free of charge. The Saturday dish will be bryani, chicken rice and vegetables; the Sunday dish will be lamb rice. The consulate is also advertising on Instagram (@consuladouaesp) that it will give away five Arabic books translated into Portuguese. To apply, follow the consulate’s Instagram profile, take a picture at the festival and add the hashtag #saopaulouae. The photo with the most likes by 3 pm on Sunday (23) wins.
The Egyptian stand will offer material on tourism, posters, handicraft, carpets, mirrors, alabaster items, papyruses and replicas of famous pharaoh figures. Typical drinks will be served. An Egyptian stand will also be featured from September 26 to 28 at the 46th ABAV International Tourism Expo, in São Paulo’s Anhembi Convention Center. Morocco will be at the trade show of the Brazilian Travel Agencies Association (Abav).
The Arab festival is intended to express the richness of Arab culture and solidarity, the mall said in a press release. There will be 25 tents selling Arab food, beverages and typical goods, including Syrian sweets, kibbeh, sfiha, grape leaf rolls, Moroccan rice, hummus, falafel, etc. Clothing, handmade perfumes, accessories and exotic items will also be on offer, and there will be Arab song and dance performances.
The mall said 70% of the tents will have refugee exhibitors. The space was made available at no cost to people who fled conflicts in their countries to start their lives over in Brazil. Opening hours are from noon to 10 pm on Saturday and from noon to 9 pm on Sunday. Admission costs 1 kg of non-perishable food, which will be donated to refugee families.
Quick facts
Arab culture festival – “A Day in Arabia”
Saturday (22) and Sunday (23)
Saturday, noon-10pm and Sunday, noon-9 pm
Shopping D Terrace – Parking area, G4
Avenida Cruzeiro do Sul, 1,100 – São Paulo – São Paulo
Find out more
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
