Famed existentialist philosopher Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche once penned, “All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking”. But sometimes, the big idea comes before the walk starts. This is the case with the annual Women’s Heritage Walk – a remarkable labour of love and project of passion for all involved.

The annual Walk from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi traces the journey of women of yore in the United Arab Emirates, who traditionally made this passage twice a year. The women would set out from Abu Dhabi for Al Ain twice a year, looking for cooler weather, when the men of the tribes left to go pearling at sea. They would return months later to greet the men as they arrived home from the sea. There are still older Emirati women who remember walking this route in a show of sisterhood and strength.

 

“All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking” — Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.

 

 

Reincarnating a tradition

The reincarnation of this walk was the brainchild of author Jody Ballard, who came across historical references to a female-only walk from Abu Dhabi to Al Ain while writing a novel about Emirati heritage. Ballard, an American psychologist, was captivated by the ethos of the journey, and saw its relevance to the modern world in breaking down boundaries between communities. She founded the new incarnation of the walk in 2015, to recreate a seminal life experience for the original walkers, and also to highlight aspects of the UAE’s culture and heritage that risked being forgotten.

The “new” walk is based on four tenets: Culture and Heritage, Health and Wellness, Community Building, and Empowerment of Women. It aims to generate positive change in the country through the walkers who participate. Here, expats and Emiratis unite to pay tribute to the past, to engage in cultural discussion, and to walk towards shaping a vibrant future. The walk also lets participants walk a mile – or quite a few – in the shoes of traditional tribal Emiratis, and get an idea of life and customs before the wealth came. It’s also a salute to the strength and resilience of the women of the desert.

Meticulous planning

It’s a 125 kilometre trek over undulating desert dunes. Meticulous planning is a must, because the modern era has stolen a few marches in health and safety over the old.

A large number of people are involved in organising the event, from founder Jody Ballard and board members such as Asma Al Mutawa. There’s another team of ten people who deal with training, operations, marketing and logistics. The event’s UAE ambassador is Bodour Al Tamimi.

This year’s walk was scheduled from February 9-14, and included 50 women from 20 nationalities, with 14 Emirati women in the mix. They aimed to cover the distance over 5 days by chalking up 25km a day through the desert.

The operation was expensive. Participants set off from the Al Bada Resort in Al Ain, walking each day from 6 am to noon, then from 2pm to sunset. Event planner Escape Events would then bodily move the entire campsite 25km every day. All the walkers were instructed to use a buddy system where you watch out for your companion and monitor their well-being. A trio of 4×4 SUVs accompanied the walkers to provide emergency aid and supplies for breaks.

Thanks to support from the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, the walk proper was embellished by sideshow cultural events –such as performances of traditional Emirati dance (al ayyala) and Bedouin poetry (al-taghrooda), and a tour of the Al Ain Oasis. And on the first day of hard walking, inflight chefs from Etihad Airways travelled to the campsite to treat tired perambulators to a full-service five star meal.

Physical and mental strength

The Walks are challenging, both physically and mentally. But they’re also extremely rewarding. First, there’s the thrill of going against adversity as a team. Then, there’s the unforgettable desert landscape pressing in on you for days on end. And of course, there’s the element of cultural exchange as expatriates and Emiratis walk shoulder to shoulder.

But sometimes, grit and determination isn’t enough. The 2017 Walk was confronted by an unusually gusty February in the UAE. Strong winds are eerie enough when whistling though city skyscrapers; out in the desert flats, unencumbered by obstacles, they become dangerous sandstorms. The walkers were expected to reach the finish line on the 14th of February, but had to be escorted out of the desert and away from the buffeting winds a day earlier.

But it was still a wonderful trek, with a happy ending. On Valentine’s Day, Dutch Ambassador His Excellency Frank Mollen invited organisers and walkers alike to dinner. The occasion celebrated the challenges of the journey, the achievements of the walkers, and the sharing of UAE culture.

The Heritage Walk is a winner. And next year, it’ll come back bigger and stronger, with more participants willing to trek for culture. “We are honoured to see the tenets of this program are resonating with the general population and specifically among the young Emirati women. We are humbled. This growing profile will allow us to enhance the program and continue to create a more authentic cultural experience while maintaining the scope so as not to delete the experience of cultural exchange,” says Bollard.