Carpets: weaving a dream world in silk and wool

Carpet Oasis 2001, the sixth international carpet and souvenir exhibition organised by the Department of Ports and Customs at Dubai Airport Expo as part of the Dubai Shopping Festival 2001, has been attracting visitors not only to hunt for rare carpets but also to watch demonstrations of carpet weaving by master weavers.

Visitors can watch village artisans from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan as they make exquisite creations, sometimes without any design, but from motifs from their mind. The venue also has a unique carpet museum displaying some rare and unique carpets, including the one valued at Dh20 million, and made by a man who took 30 years to complete it, using 5,000 natural colours.

Dubai Education Zone too has been hosting activities involving school children from Dubai. The activities include art workshop for teachers and painting competitions for children. Carpet Oasis has for sale some exquisite carpets, some of them hundreds of years old, with prices starting at Dh100 and going up to millions of dirhams.

Shoppers at Carpet Oasis 2001 not only get a chance to own a work of art, but also learn a great deal about the folk culture of the regions where these carpets are produced. Carpet Oasis 2001 features works from Iran, Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, China and Iraq. The event is being held in the 12,000 square metre West Hall of Dubai Airport Expo. The venue features fine handmade carpets and artefacts in 70 stands, while 40 smaller stalls display souvenirs and curios.

Shoppers stand to win daily prizes as well as grand prizes like cars, as this year the event is being sponsored by Al Tayer Motors. A live Arab calligraphy exhibition is also popular with visitors. Last year, Carpet Oasis 2000 sold carpets worth Dh95 million. The total number of visitors was 155,000.