Dama Council Revives the Game of Strategy at Sharjah Heritage Days
Sharjah, 6 February 2026
The Dama Council is participating with a spacious pavilion in the 23rd edition of Sharjah Heritage Days, reflecting the continued interest in popular traditional games as an integral part of cultural memory.
Dama… A Living Heritage
Naji Rashid Al Nuaimi, representative of the Dama Council pavilion, stated that the council is keen on annual participation in Sharjah Heritage Days to revive the game of Dama as an authentic folk heritage. He noted that participation in the Sharjah Heritage Forum began in 2014.
Global Roots and Multiple Names
Al Nuaimi explained that the group is among the founders of the Dama pavilion at the International Heritage Festival, and that the game was revived in the Gulf countries through Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain, where it continues to enjoy wide popularity. He added that Dama is a mental game similar to chess, relying on intelligence, planning, and patience. It is known worldwide by different names: in France as Dames, in Italy as Dama, in Africa as Douma, while in the Gulf and Turkey it is known as Dama.
From the Pharaohs to the Gulf
He pointed to views that link the origins of the game to the Pharaonic civilization, supported by historical evidence, noting that it reached the Gulf and the Levant through the Ottomans, before spreading across most Arab countries under different names.
A Message to New Generations
Naji Al Nuaimi emphasized the Dama Council’s commitment to continuous participation in heritage festivals to introduce new generations to the game and prevent it from being confined to a specific age group, as it represents a part of cultural heritage that must be preserved and passed on to future generations.