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United Arab Emirates Local Customs

Learn the local customs of United Arab Emirates. Tips and photos posted by real travelers and United Arab Emirates locals.
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United Arab Emirates Local CustomsTips 1 - 10 of 47  
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Falcons
  • Tip Rating:
    • dr.firas
  • By dr.firas on April 8, 2006
  • United Arab Emirates Page by dr.firas
    • Dr.Firas and beautiful Falcon - United Arab Emirates
    Dr.Firas and beautiful Falcon
    by dr.firas
    The noble birds, and fastest ever animal in the world, using the gravity laws a falcon fall down with a speed up to 300 kms in hour to make small chances for surviving to the target poor animal victim, Falcons are the sign and favorite animal of the wealthy Sheikh's of UAE, and they coast loooooots of money, and there are big efforts and daily job to tame them, in the end it is a prestigious and great friend of Arab noble chief's...thus Arabian princes are called Falcons.

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    Islam
  • Tip Rating:
    • traveldave
  • Updated By traveldave on October 5, 2007
  • United Arab Emirates Page by traveldave
    • United Arab Emirates Local Customs
    by traveldave
    Islam is the official religion of the United Arab Emirates. Unlike in some of its neighboring countries, other religions are tolerated, and even officially sanctioned. There are Christian churches in most of the larger cities and towns. Alcohol is available to non-Muslims in hotels in all of the emirates except Abu Dhabi. Western tourists may wear shorts, and it is not uncommon to see Western women in bikinis on the beaches. However, visitors should keep in mind that what may be acceptable on a beach or in a hotel may not necessarily be acceptable on the streets.

    Despite the openness toward other beliefs, Islam is nevertheless an important aspect in the lives of the citizens of the United Arab Emirates. Mosques are to be seen everywhere, from the largest cities to the smallest towns, and the call to prayer is heard throughout the country five times per day. Most Muslim women still wear the abaya, a full-length black covering. However, the hard-line fanatacism that is present in many Muslim countries is not tolerated in the United Arab Emirates, and it is a safe country to visit in what can be a volatile part of the world.

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    Dhows
  • Tip Rating:
    • traveldave
  • Updated By traveldave on August 26, 2007
  • United Arab Emirates Page by traveldave
    • United Arab Emirates Local Customs
    by traveldave
    Dhows are a type of wooden boat traditionally powered by sail that have been used for centuries on trade routes between the Middle East, India and East Africa. The name is not Arabic, but comes from a Swahili word, dau, meaning "boat" or "ship." The Arabic word is al boom.

    Pearls from the Persian Gulf were traded for gold, precious stones, and ivory from Africa, and oils, ointments, and spices from India. Nowadays, however, most trade is in electronic goods and canned food, although some dhows are used for smuggling. And now most dhows are equipped with diesel engines, radar, and navigational aids and are seldom powered by sail. It is common to see dhows in ports all along the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean in the United Arab Emirates, as well as Oman.

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    Fishing
  • Tip Rating:
    • traveldave
  • Updated By traveldave on August 26, 2007
  • United Arab Emirates Page by traveldave
    • United Arab Emirates Local Customs
    by traveldave
    Because the United Arab Emirates has coasts along both the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean, fishing has for centuries been an important part of the lives of the Arabs who lived on the coasts. Traditionally, wooden fishing boats called sambuk, wooden boats with a mast for a sail, were used, but now more conventional diesel-powered craft are employed. Techniques for catching the fish historically included nets and special cages made from palm fronds. Nowadays, however, nets are almost universally used. The men still take to the sea to catch fish, and the women sort and sell the fish. In the late afternoon, visitors can watch the fishermen bring in the catch in ports along the coast.

    There are about 300 varieties of fish in the waters off the United Arab Emirates, and fish is a food staple along the coast. (Inland, camel and goat meat are staples). Popular types of fish available in the United Arab Emirates include hammour (a type of grouper), barracuda, tuna, and kingfish. Prawns and other kinds of seafood are also part of the country's cuisine.

    Fish is usually cooked on grills and seasoned with indigenous spices such as cardamon, coriander, or cumin, or imported spices including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, chili, saffron, or tumeric.

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    The Camel
  • Tip Rating:
    • traveldave
  • Updated By traveldave on August 26, 2007
  • United Arab Emirates Page by traveldave
    • United Arab Emirates Local Customs
    by traveldave
    Historically, the camel was the most important animal in the lives of the nomadic Bedu (sometimes called Bedouin) of the Arabian Peninsula. It was the main form of transportation, it served as a general beast of burden, its meat and milk were food staples, and its hides were used for leather. (In Oman I tried camel's milk. See my "Restaurant" tip on my Oman page to see what it was like).

    Nowadays, many rural people in the United Arab Emirates still tend herds of camels, and it is common to come across camels anywhere in the desert. Although their meat and milk are still used, most camels are raised for racing. Each emirate has its own camel-racing track, except for Fujairah, where bullfighting is popular. Most race tracks are circular, but the one in Digdaga in Ras al-Khaimah emirate is a one-mile (1.6-kilometer) straightaway.

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    Photography of Muslim Women
  • Tip Rating:
    • traveldave
  • Updated By traveldave on October 5, 2007
  • United Arab Emirates Page by traveldave
    • United Arab Emirates Local Customs
    by traveldave
    Most female citizens of the United Arab Emirates are Muslim, and therefore normally dress in the abaya (also called the shaili), a black full-length covering. Under the abaya, women wear loose sirwal, or trousers, and a kandura, a dress frequently embroidered in gold or silver. Koranic law dictates that the abaya be worn whenever in public, and this includes the beach. It is not uncommon to see groups of women dressed in abayas walking along the beach, or wading up to their ankles in the water.

    Photography of Muslim women is generally considered offensive, and anyone caught taking pictures may face the wrath of their male relations, or may have to answer to the police. Therefore, anyone wanting to take pictures of women in their abayas should do so discretely and from a distance.

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    Sculptures In Traffic Circles
  • Tip Rating:
    • traveldave
  • Updated By traveldave on December 18, 2005
  • United Arab Emirates Page by traveldave
    • United Arab Emirates Local Customs
    by traveldave
    In the United Arab Emirates, as in many Arabic countries, human representation in artwork is forbidden according to Koranic law. Therefore, public art often consists of abstract scupltures in traffic circles. In addition to the gigantic coffee pot pictured here, I saw huge ceramic pots, a clock tower, ancient cannons, a replica of the Koran, an eagle, mountain sheep, and large lanterns.

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    Don't be surprised..
  • Tip Rating:
    • Rawabi
  • By Rawabi on May 27, 2003
  • United Arab Emirates Page by Rawabi
    • Wedding. - United Arab Emirates
    Wedding.
    by Rawabi
    You might not need this but it's just for your info... :)
    If you ever saw a house with light decoration don't think it's a tourism spot!! it's a wedding!!!
    Over here the bride's house is usually decorated with lights for a day or two.. or maybe even a week.. to announce the wedding and share the joy.. :)
    The ceremony usually takes place in a wedding hall at hotels, though..

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    Men.. and women...
  • Tip Rating:
    • Rawabi
  • By Rawabi on May 20, 2003
  • United Arab Emirates Page by Rawabi
    • Most of you live in a society in which men and women work together, study together and generally spend time together as friends/ lovers.. Here in UAE women work side to side with men.. but there are always limits..
    never shake hand with a local girl!!!! She won't bite you! I mean local girls are open minded and generally cool.. but it's against the religion and the culture.. so be careful.. :)

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    Henna
  • Tip Rating:
    • Rawabi
  • By Rawabi on May 21, 2003
  • United Arab Emirates Page by Rawabi
    • Henna - United Arab Emirates
    Henna
    by Rawabi
    Henna is one of the oldest and most common beauty traditions here in UAE... You can have henna in almost every beauty salon in UAE... try it ladies.. you'll love it... :-)

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    More United Arab Emirates Tips
    Overview
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    Things To Do
    Tips: 204 - Photos: 214    		Nightlife
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    Tips: 54 - Photos: 30    		Restaurants
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    Shopping
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    Tips: 45 - Photos: 55
    Tourist Traps
    Tips: 19 - Photos: 8    		Warnings or Dangers
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    Local Customs
    Tips: 47 - Photos: 32    		Packing Lists
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    Sports Travel
    Tips: 11 - Photos: 6    		General Tips
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