Al-Ayyala is a traditional war-themed dance widely celebrated in the UAE and Oman. Performed by men in two facing rows, it features rhythmic stick movements to the beat of a large drum called the Rasiyya. The dance symbolizes unity and strength, with participants carrying sticks or spears as symbolic weapons. Additional dancers may move between the rows, sometimes tossing swords or pistols into the air. The rows alternate chanting poetry and songs, which vary by occasion. Some performances also include women in vibrant traditional dress, adding a festive touch.
A video of this dance, performed during Trump’s visit to the UAE, has recently gone viral—especially because of the women’s part, where they swing their hair dramatically. Some people have criticized it as inappropriate and indecent, while others have joked that the hair movements look like something out of a horror movie. However, what I am interested in is what these hair movements symbolize.Could it be a kind of war cry or a symbol of defiance, similar to how Draupadi’s unbound hair represents a call for vengeance in the Mahabharata?
