Abu Dhabi Local Customs

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Wasta is a word often heard in Dubai in the UAE. It is Arabic and translates as something like authority, influence, political (or other) power, connections, or a combination of those terms. In practical terms it means that some rules can become more flexible if you have wasta, or know someone who has wasta. Also, a bit of wasta can smooth or speed up business transactions, bureaucratic issues, and other official procedures. At its best (or worst, depending on your point of view), a good dose of wasta could keep you out of jail or save you from other unpleasant consequences of dubious activities.

The common English expression "it's not what you know but who you know ... " is a rough equivalent of wasta.

On the wasta scale (not that there is an official one), things that can make a difference in the UAE are your nationality, your profession, who you work for, who you know, your political position in the country, your connections to people in positions of authority. Money and how long you have lived in the UAE don't usually directly affect your wasta level but indirectly they do since longer term residents may have built up a larger network of high-wasta friends, and rich people often associate with other rich people who may be high-wasta individuals.

Many expat residents learn about wasta through a driving experience. In simple terms, the more wasta someone has, the less likely they are to cop a fine and/or be blamed if there's an accident. Wasta can result in some unusual situations for example, green lights were actually red when you went through them because the person who crashed into you had enough wasta to change the color retroactively. Indications of higher levels of wasta on the road are dark tinted or mirror tinted windows (30% maximum is the law so anything more than that means it's likely they have enough wasta to get around this rule), number plates with fewer than 5 digits (but anyone can buy them now if they have enough cash so it's not as good an indication as in the past).

Wasta is something that many expats, especially westerners, find difficult to come to terms with but you'll find it easier to enjoy Dubai if you get used to that rather than try to fight it. And of course it helps if you can elevate your own wasta level somehow.
Wasta and Bribes

Don't confuse wasta with bribery. If you try to bribe a government official, for example a police officer who has just pulled you up for driving though somebody's garden, you should expect to be punished fairly harshly for trying to bribe them. And if the owner of the garden that you drove through has some wasta, then you'll probably be even worse off. In the business world, things may operate a little differently. Just as anywhere else in the world, the negotiation of business transactions and contracts is not always done on a level playing field, and bribes ... er gifts ... might be part of your discussions with interested parties.

Language
The official language of the UAE is Arabic, but English is widely spoken and is commonly used in conjunction with Arabic.

Culture
The following paragraph is the same as the section under Religion as the Islamic religion is the 'Culture' of the UAE.

Religion
Islam is the official religion in the UAE. There is no separation of the sacred from the secular, as Islam is a way of life for Muslims and it is something that you will have to get used to. Probably the first thing you will notice is the call of the prayer. This is a short verse sung by the 'Imam' from the mosque, which begins with "Allah Akbar", or "God is the greatest". You will hear it 5 times a day (once at dawn). All Muslims will then stop work, wash themselves ritually, and face Mecca to pray.
The loudspeakers of most mosques will call the faithful to each prayer time. New expatriates searching for accommodation near a mosque should bear the certainty of the dawn and other calls to prayer in mind when you are deciding where to live.

UAE Law
There are 3 courts in the UAE: the Shariah, Criminal and Civil Court.
Shariah law is based on the Quran and the sayings of the Prophet Mohamed *(PBUH). Crimes are referred to a Public Prosecutor who decides whether the case should be adjudicated before a Shariah Court or a Criminal Court. Generally, Muslims are sent before the Shariah court, while expats, depending on the nature of the offense, are referred to Criminal Court. The Civil Court is for general cases (unpaid house rents, bouncing cheques, etc), however these cases can be referred to the Shariah Court.
*(PBUH) stands for Peace Be Upon Him - you will often find this written when Prophet Mohamed's name is mentioned.

Abu Dhabi is generally conservative, but tolerant when it comes to dress code. Residents and visitors are advised to respect local culture and customs by not wearing revealing clothing in public places. It is respectful for men and women to cover shoulders and knees when in public.

For visitors to the country, lightweight summer clothing is suitable for most of the year, but something slightly warmer may be needed for the winter months. Be sure to take some sort of jacket or sweater when visiting hotels, offices or the cinemas, as the air conditioning can be pretty fierce. Although throughout the emirates the attitude is fairly liberal, in Abu Dhabi it is rather more conservative than in neighbouring Dubai. As in all countries, a healthy amount of respect for the local customs doesn't go amiss, especially when shopping or generally sightseeing. Short or tight clothing may be worn, but it will attract attention - most of it unwelcome. For ladies it is advisable to wear short sleeved rather than sleeveless tops and dresses, especially if travelling by local taxi on your own (shawls and wraps are often worn over evening dresses etc).

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A striking observation in Abu Dhabi, especially when visiting from Dubai, is how uniform the buildings are in this well-planned compact city. Apparently, land in Abu Dhabi was donated many years ago by the ruler to the citizens who were forbidden from reselling it. In the 1960s through the 80s, they were encouraged to build on the land they owned. In the past decade, however, Abu Dhabi decided to give itself a facelift and the government provided low interest (or no interest?) loans to landowners to destroy the less attractive old structures and to replace them with nicer taller modern towers, capped at a specific height. One by one, the old were destroyed and the result has been this pretty and uniform city (despite some of the modern structures still lacking in aesthetics). One disadvantage was a rapid rise in rents as new modern buildings immediately charged higher their apartments. Attached are photos of the some of the few remaining older buildings, one of which is in the process of being demolished. Soon, none of these will remain.

Abu-Dhabi has a sub-tropical, arid climate with mostly sunny blue skies. Rainfall is infrequent and irregular, falling mainly in winter, from November to March (12cm per year). Temperatures range from a low of around 10 C (50 F), to a high of around 48 C (118 F) in the summer. The most pleasant time to visit is in the cooler winter months when temperatures are around 24C (75 F) during the day and 13 C (56 F) at night.
The prevailing winds are from the north-west and are called "Shamal" and they often bring sandstorms particularly in winter. More surprisingly is the fog in the winter mornings that can make driving a hazard but that disappears with the morning sun. In the summer, humidity can be killer - approaching 100%! As in any place with plenty of sun, good quality sunglasses, hats and sunscreen are essential and so are drinking plenty of fluids (at least 1 1/2 litres of water/day), don't rely on feeling thirsty!.

... is like buying porn....sneeky stuff. ;-)

From outside it does not even look like a store. It's tiny inside...but all is there .
Alcohol should be on the oposite corner.

10th (Liwa) Street. Close to "Friday's"

As far as I can see, the dress code for western women is not a problem.
If you are female then men will stare regardless of what you are wearing.
I tend to wear a vest top and jeans or a long skirt. I did however see a woman wearing tight shorts and a very tight top. This seems a little over the top.
But for everyone to suggest that women should wear long tops and skirts is silly. As i said before, your female, men here will look and chat you up.

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At the time of the Eids people take time off to relax and enjoy themselves, go visiting family and friends. Picnics in the parks and along the corniche are a means of enjoying the fresh air . Barbecues are set up, and pre-prepared food is taken along too. Whole families get together to share the feast.