Wrapping up his multi-nation tour of the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and was welcomed with a visually dramatic cultural performance at Abu Dhabi’s Qasr Al Watan palace. The event, now the center of online discussion, featured a centuries-old traditional dance involving synchronised hair movements by female performers.
Dressed in flowing white gowns, the women stood in formation, tossing their long hair side to side in rhythm with drumbeats and poetic chants. Behind them, male performers beat large drums and waved thin sticks resembling swords, completing the ceremonial display. The performance, part of the Al-Ayyala tradition, caught the internet’s attention and quickly went viral, prompting millions of views and varied reactions.
The dance, deeply rooted in UAE and Omani heritage, is recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural asset. Traditionally performed during weddings and national festivities, Al-Ayyala enacts a mock battle scene, symbolizing unity, strength, and heritage. Typically, men face each other in two rows with bamboo sticks, while women, particularly in the UAE, join by flipping their hair to the rhythm. The tradition includes performers of all ages and backgrounds, often led by a senior member responsible for passing down the art form.
Trump’s Expressionless Reaction to Dance Goes Viral
Trump, walking between the performers, appeared expressionless in the viral clip, which was posted online by White House aide Margo Martin. As of now, the video has crossed 5 million views on platform X (formerly Twitter), where users reacted with everything from cultural curiosity to humorous confusion. Some comments criticised the unusual welcome, while others called for cultural respect and open-mindedness.
This marked the final stop of Trump’s Gulf tour, which also included highly publicised visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar earlier in the week. In Riyadh, he was honored with a horse escort and a jet flyover, while in Doha, his motorcade was flanked by camels and futuristic red Cybertrucks. The UAE event added another unique moment to a tour already full of viral spectacles.
While the dance performance made headlines, Trump’s visit also had significant diplomatic implications. He announced $200 billion in deals with the UAE, with promises of increased cooperation in fields like artificial intelligence. According to reports, his overall tour secured over $1 trillion in investment pledges from Gulf states, aimed at bolstering U.S. economic interests in the region.
Despite the light-hearted social media attention around the welcome ceremony, cultural experts stress the importance of Al-Ayyala as a symbol of national identity and resilience in the region. What may appear unusual to some, they argue, reflects generations of preserved tradition and collective memory.
