What Is Al Ayyala? UAE Women Welcome Donald Trump With Hair-Flipping Ritual

US President Donald Trump, who is visiting the United Arab Emirates, was welcomed at Abu Dhabi's Zayed International Airport with a royal welcome. Upon arriving at the presidential palace, Qasr Al Watan, he was greeted with a cultural performance called Al-Ayyala, in which men play drums and chant poems while women perform a unique dance called Khaleeji. The dance involves women tossing their hair side-to-side in sync with the music.

What Is Al-Ayyala?

In a video that is being widely circulated on social media, US President Trump can be seen walking through two rows of dozens of women in flowy white gowns, flipping their long, dark hair, as the men play drums and sing songs. This is called Al-Ayyala. According to a report by UNESCO, it is a popular performance in north-western Oman and the UAE.

.@POTUS bids President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan farewell after receiving a royal welcome at Zayed International Airport in Abu Dhabi 🇺🇸🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/NnIf6MYp44

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) May 15, 2025

Men stand in two rows facing each other, carrying swords or guns to simulate a battle scene. They move their heads and swords to the music. In the UAE, women take part in the Khaleeji dance, swaying their hair to the beats. While the women in Qasr Al Watan opted for white gowns, the dance is typically performed wearing colourful traditional dresses.

Khaleeji, also known as Khaleegy, is a mix of folk and classical dance in the Emirates. The movements are mainly, but not always, restricted to he upper body in this performance. The hair, apart from the thobe (upper garment) is the main element. Each bodily motion in this dance is said to symbolise something—the sea, fish, birds, characters, or feelings. 

 Al-Ayyala is typically performed during special occasions like weddings, gatherings, or festivals. People of all ages participate in the ritual. The lead performer is usually an inherited role and is responsible for training other performers. The music has seven tones in an irregular repeated pattern, and the chanted poetry varies according to the occasion.