Dubai Local Customs

 
by Robin020
 
  •   Local Customs
    by Robin020
  •   Local Customs
    by Robin020
  •   Local Customs
    by Robin020
  •   Local Customs
    by Robin020
  •   Local Customs
    by Robin020
 

Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

While in Rome do what the Romans do........

by scaffas

Well few tips i think the travellers rather tourists should know about dubai:- Being a islamic country nudity is very intolerant so if you guys on the beaches try keeping the swim suits on.- Alcohol is not sold everywhere, you cannot drink on the streets or carry a bottle with you outside, drink at home or clubs.- During Ramadan time you should refrain yourself from eating and drinking in public as the holy month of fasting is going on. The restaurants are all closed till sunset for a month.- Abusing and vulgar actions can cause you a trip to the jail.- Being intimate and kissing in public could also get you in trouble. A kiss is ok in public but more than that could invite trouble.- Being a muslim country pork is not served everywhere, only in five star hotels and they do mention if it is pork. But you can buy from the stores and cook it at home.

Dress Code

by leanne_pearc

Dubai is modernising each day however when in the city it is always best to dress modestly which includes casually.Its best if ladies dont wear short skirts or tiny tops. Singlets with thick straps is fine.In the western hotels you can pretty much wear what you want and walk around the pool area in your bathers.

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Luxury

by leanne_pearc

I think this is beginning to become a part of Dubai's culture.Example:- Our hotel controlled the Beaches temperature and every night we would get a newsletter informing of what it would be the next day!

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Majlis!

by ludogatto

Majlis is a meeting place for the man where they play domino, drink togheter coffe of tea, smoking shisa, talking and mantein the trditions alive.In Bastakia area there is still one of this, before was only a tent, now is a big room with carpet and pillows, but also a wooden and tent veranda.We hade the chance to occasionaly know a eau citizen in the Bastakia area thet invited me and my partner to stay with them in the Majlis....we were sitted near an ex Eau ambassador, a petroleum producer and the major eau date producer! simply people in the traditional withe cafetano asking about Switzerland, their next vacation This is a good place to maintain alive the tradition and to get involved the tourist in the true arab culture.A lot of them borned and grow up here but now they live in other residential area...Majlis is the way to stay togheter.

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"Tsching tsching? WHO THERE???"

by Escadora7

Think retro .. and the images of Jim Morrison crooning 'Break on through to the other side' smack bang centre into your head. And all along the little tambourine 'tsching' 'tsching-ing' away crazily. Well the Arabs have their own lil mojo right in the middle of Dubai.Daff, or oriental tambourine:Called Riq or Duff in certain places. It is impressive to see a good riq player, and to see the range of sounds and rhythm patterns that they can play. The riq is a small (approx 20cm diameter) circular percussion instrument, with an animal skin head, and many small cymbals on the sides. Not to forget Lars Ulrich (Metallica) and Ringo Starr smashing away at their drumkits .. Here's another arabic percussion instrument designed to get your butts jiggling.Tabla:Also called Dumbek in certain places. It is a drum shaped like an hour glass. Traditionally made of clay, more recently it has been made of...

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Kenny G serenades his belly dancers

by Escadora7

Well if Elvis could have his turn at playing arabic instruments, why not Kenny G. Let's just substitute the stringed instruments for wind instruments here and voila .. this is what we have - The Nay:Bamboo flute, made of an open piece of bamboo, with seven holes (one for the thumb, and 6 for other fingers). Can also come with a mouthpiece made of goat horn. Professional Nays come in sets; for example, a professional nay player will have a case full of different instruments which are tuned to play different maqams. The Mejwiz:Made of two "twin" pipes, with a stopper going through them. The Mejwiz is a folk instrument that is often used in weddings and other social gatherings. The whole end is inserted into the mouth, and the musician uses circular breathing, in order to achieve a continuous sound. The instrument sounds very nasal, and is quite...

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The Arabian Elvis

by Escadora7

So now probably you're wondering if Elvis was born Arab, what kind of stringed instruments he would be using - yes? Well go on reading then ...The Oud:The Oud's rich low tone makes it the ideal instrument for long Tarab evenings. It is a pear-shaped lute with a short fretless neck. It can be plucked with the fingers or with a feather. The Oud is essential to small ensembles, as well as to the classical "takht". It is also the instrument of choice to accompany male soloists.The Qanoun:The word "Qanun" translates to "law". The instrument however consists of 50(?) strings strung on a metallic table, in a way reminescent of the Santour in Iranian music. The strings however, are plucked instead of "hammered", in a way that produces a very nasal sound. The musician straps metal plucks onto his/her left and right indexes, and sits the instrument on their lap or on a small table. The Qanoun...

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Roundabouts

by Escadora7

One thing that amazes most people coming to Dubai is just how many roundabouts there are - it seems like every corner is one. The thing about UAE-roundabouts is that they are really nicely decorated - each having a theme, with a statue or some sort of structure in the middle. Roundabouts can be scary for people who are not used to them - here are some basic tips:- Traffic in the roundabout has the right of way. Incoming vehicles have to yield.- While driving within the circle, leave the left signal on. Only when exiting put on the right signal, so that incoming traffic knows what your intentions are.- Theoreticallly, pedestrians have the right of way, but this is Dubai, and pedestrians are usually aware that they have to fend for their own life.

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The Music and Dance of the Emirates

by Escadora7

Music and dance play an important role in every society - this holds true for the UAE: the most famous dance is Al Ayaala, a war dance which praises the virues of courage and bravery in battle. It is performed to a drumbeat and the men carry swords.Al Nahma is a famous song of the sea, sung without musical instruments. It is performed on board ships to encourage pearl divers and express their longing and compassion for their families. Local traders brought the Lewa dance back from Africa. This dance has a fast tempo, which is provided by large drums.Folklore dances were performed on special occasions such as weddings, when pearl diving boats set out or returned, and at religious festivals. The biography of the Prophet Mohammed is narrated in the Al Maalid, which is accompanied by drumbeats and movement.We learned all this at a special cultural exhibit in the Wafi mall, but more...

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The Weapons of the Emirates

by Escadora7

The Bedouin admire, above all, courage, strength, and bravery. A man would wear his dagger at all times and keep his rifle beside him while he slept.There were several types of traditional weaponry, which included swords such as the Bu Falaj and Al Kattara, daggers with handles of animal horn or ivory, an Al Bishek (a sharp steel knife) and Al Yazer (a strong stick with an iron axe mounted on the end). Swords and daggers were greatly valued and were often decorated with engraved silver or gold.Rifles (including Umm Fatila and Samaa) were used for defence and hunting and at the end of the Nineteenth century; Dubai was famous for manufacturing daggers, swords, gunpowder, bullets and the trade of weapons.We learned all this at a special cultural exhibit in the Wafi mall, but more information and exhibits are in the Dubai museum.

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Local traditions and culture in Dubai

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi Does anyone know if there is always long queues to get tickets to go to the Observastion Deck of the Burj Khalifa and also... 

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A: No, there are not "always" lines. Actually there are rarely "lines" as the majority of people book online. However, tickets can often (and do often) sell out days in... 

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