Dubai A celebration featuring traditional dance, mini bazaars and sports activities marked the first Ethiopian community gathering in the UAE Friday at the Dubai Club for Special Sports.
The event, attended by hundreds of Ethiopians and other nationalities, also showcased authentic Ethiopian dishes.
Nabeel Mohammad, an Ethiopian businessman, told Gulf News that it was about time that the community held such an event. "I've been here for 20 years and I have never seen the Ethiopian community gather. I always said we need a community gathering where we can get to know each other. Our kids are growing and they do not know their fellow Ethiopians here in Dubai," said Mohammad, a member of the Ethiopian Community executive board.
There are about 100,000 Ethiopians in the UAE working in various industries. "We have a big community here. The Ethiopian community [in Dubai] is growing. We want to strengthen our togetherness and promote our culture," said Ethiopian Consul General to the UAE Mesganu Arga Moach, adding that the UAE-Ethiopia relations has steadily grown in recent years.
"The UAE is one of the biggest trading partners of Ethiopia. We buy industrial and manufacturing goods from the UAE and in turn export livestock, meat, cereal, seeds and flour to the UAE," he added.
