About the Country

Occupying a total land area of 83, 600 km², United Arab Emirates is one of the fastest growing tourist spots in the world. United Arab Emirates borders Gulf of Oman on the east, Qatar to the north and Saudi Arabia to the west and south. It houses 5, 402, 375 people according to 2008 estimations. The country is replete with awe-inspiring wonders from desert safaris to elite shopping malls and accommodations. The country has all the right ingredients for a wonderful escapade in and outside the big metropolis. Its capital city is Abu Dhabi whilst the largest city is Dubai.

United Arab Emirates is composed of seven states namely Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras Al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm Al-Quwain. According to the international travel industry, UAE is one of the safest places across the globe to have a fantastic holiday vacation. Around 96% of the total population in UAE are Muslim followers, then followed by Hindus and Christians. There are also other races reside in UAE such as Indians, Filipinos, Bangladeshi and among others.

Culture/Customs

The culture in UAE roots from Arabic culture and involves a strong bond with the rest of Islamic countries all over the world. However, it does not mean that the country solely follows Islamic tradition, it also upholds and cherishes the liberal value of tolerance. In fact, there are many Hindu Temples and Christian churches exist in UAE. There are also Western and Asian schools and restaurants dot the country helping it to make UAE as culture liberal. As the culture of the country continues to progress, the government is also committed to preserve the traditional culture of UAE.

Here are some guidelines about UAE culture and customs to help you understand more and broaden your cultural horizons.

FAMILY AND WOMEN

The family is considered as a key social unit to the country. Most of the UAE national families are large since the bigger the members of the family it will give economic and spiritual benefit. When the children get older, they are expected to take good care of their parents.

In UAE society, women are highly respected. Males either local or foreign should follow some traditional customs concerning UAE women. Here are couple of ideas about traditional culture about women in the country.

1. Male should stand when a female enters the room and let her go through the door before you.
2. Avoid staring women or have an eye contact with them especially in public.
3. Do not be shock when you enter in a household when you cannot socialize with women because there are separate living areas for men and women.
4. For your safety, do not flirt, touch or hug females in private or public places.
5. You are not allowed to engage a conversation or shake hands with UAE women unless it is business related or prompted to do so.

SOCIAL CONDUCT / ETIQUETTE

1. Always use your right hand in passing or accepting food or drinks, as left hand is deemed dirty.
2. Paying respect to elders is very important in an Arab world like UAE. So, always give respect to someone who’s older than you.
3. If you are given refreshment, never refuse the offer as it will be taken as an insult by your host.
4. When an Arab asks if how are you, always reply with “Al Hamdulillah” that means All praise is do to Allah.
5. It is considered disrespectful when you cross your legs in front of someone especially from a prominent position. Thus, it is better to avoid doing cross legs.
6. Always have clean feet and wear decent socks, as you will remove your shoes or sandals at the entrance of a local Arab home.
7. Avoid controversial topics for discussions like religion and politics in the country because it may lead to an intense argument. Remember, you are a guest of the country ergo you must know how to give respect.

Tourism

Its strategic location and vast picturesque spectacles, tourism in UAE skyrocketed over the past years. The urbane infrastructures and safety surroundings highly blends with the country’s hospitality and pleasant atmosphere. Traveling to UAE is very accessible since air travel has significantly increased due to the growing number of visitors visiting the nation. The country endows one of the best of the worlds such as sophisticated buildings, extensive coastline, quaint sandy beaches and various beautiful landscapes.

In addition, there are also wide variety of activities to participate including powerboat races, sand skiing and many more. If you want to buy chic apparels and the latest trend in fashion, UAE boasts with fantastic shopping destination for shopaholics. For the less active in shopping, cultural centers offers traditional sports such as camel racing and horseracing, which draw huge number of leisure tourists and business travelers.