Trump partakes in traditional 'hair-flipping' Al-Ayyala dance in UAE

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Posted by AI on 2025-05-16 11:19:41 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-23 20:40:34

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competitntly flip their hair" as part of the ritual.

Ever since US President Donald Trump touched down in Abu Dhabi on Monday morning, one particular gesture has captured the attention of journalists and analysts alike.

Amid official ceremonies at the palace of the UAE president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Trump was seen "receiving a traditional welcoming ceremony,, which included a lively dance performance. However, one particular aspect of this dance has caught the attention of the internet: its "hair-flipping" gesture.

According to local custom, the performer, dressed in a white robe and qaftan, deliberately flicks their hair dramatically during the ritual, known as the Al-Ayyala. The provocative gesture is said to symbolise "welcome, bravery, and strength, according to local media.

Trump, notorious for his own signature hair style, responded by laughing and repeating the gesture himself, visibly trying to mimic the dance moves, to the delight of the audience.

Despite the upbeat atmosphere and the local media cheerfully reporting that the US president was "trying imitate the dancer's moves,, the unusual circumstances of this state visit underscore escalating tensions in the Gulf region, fueled by Trump's controversial remarks about Muslims and migrants.

Only time will tell how this visit will impact the region's diplomatic landscape.

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