Various factors have transformed the seven constituent emirates of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the amalgamation of Arabian, Islamic and Persian influences. More so, the destination is blessed with numerous cultures that shape the way people live, eat, dress, celebrate, make music, dance, and engage in other daily activities. Continue reading to explore the vibrant heritage and culture of the Emirates.
UAE Culture and Traditions
Exceptional Social Customs
The people residing in the UAE are usually welcoming to one another and they also have particular manners they observe when greeting one another. When men meet, they usually greet each other by touching their noses, a move referred to as an ‘Emirati kiss’ or ‘Khusmak.’ There is also a common greeting of a handshake with the right hand or a hug between people of the same sex. But due to religion, in most cases there are no handshakes or hugs between men and women, only nods or one’s hand over one’s heart and a smile.
Traditions and Customs
Sheikh Zayed believed in the right balance of modernity and tradition. UAE’s culture has many customs and traditions. One such instance where the serving of Arabic coffee is being offered, while hospitality is represented by the serving of the Arabic coffee in a ‘Dallah’ serving pot. This practice is also not accepted at all. The other age-old custom that has also been attributed to the UAE is the sport of falconry. The falcon or Saqr embodies such traits as bravery, strength and elegance. Apart from padi competition, one of the activities that the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital organizes for its visitors is a desert safari.
Traditions also play an important role in marriage in the United Arab Emirates, where a wedding involves a number of rituals and customs along with a huge celebration. Parents are usually in charge of choosing from the bride’s side to the groom’s side. Therefore, marriage within the close family is shunned. One of the common pre-wedding practices is usually referred to as The Laylat Al Henna or Henna Night where female relations and friends of the bride come together for a small get together. The hands of the bride are stained with elaborate henna patterns, wherein the kind of mehndi used often denotes her social class.
Picturesque Houses
UAE architecture is greatly inspired by Persian, Arabian, and Islamic types of architecture as this part of the world has a rich culture. Local architects make sure the right materials and climatic factors are considered so that unhindered ventilation and privacy is achieved in the designs. An interesting architectural element is the ‘Barjeel’ or wind tower that facilitates the movement of air which is borrowed from Iran. Most tourists come to the UAE due to the country’s remarkable malls and hotels which have good architectural designs.
Some of the astonishing architecture in the UAE includes:
- Souk Madinat, Dubai
- Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi
- Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai
- The Dubai Mall, Dubai
- Etihad Towers, Abu Dhabi
Religion in the UAE
Religion is one of the core things that affect the lives of the people who reside in the UAE and the freedom of religion is appreciated in all of the cosmopolitan people of the country. The majority of the people, approximately 76% practice Islam while the rest of the population follows other faiths. Most of them are Sunni Islam and vice versa with Shia making up even a larger portion of the population. Other religions include Hindu, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism and Judaism which are all minority religions.
The amazement most of the time revolves around development and guidelines which support and provide Muslims the ability to practice their religion. The United Arab Emirates is also known for many other beautiful mosques. The most important of these is the reduction of working hours by two hours in Ramadan. Even in this case, the workweek is from Sunday through Thursday so that the people do not miss out on the Friday prayers. Despite the fact that there are no discriminations on grounds of religion in the UAE, all activities such as efforts to change a Muslim’s religion are considered a heinous crime. For example, people have been deported for the simple reason of giving away the books of the bible to Muslims.
Art in the UAE
Also, the versatility of the culture of the UAE has been tenable for the art, music, dancing, literatures, and shalt instead of only aiming at the so-called theater institutions. Apart from this, the nation possesses a number of art churches and art museums, both of ancient and modern works. Still highly appreciated, are the absorbent dome forms of Arabic, where words are combined beautifully with the fountain of posters. Currently, a different type of “Nabati poetry” is focused on the daily ordinary activities of the people speaking and writing is quite common literature and spoken word performances.
As it is known, music as well as dancing is embedded in the culture of the UAE and it is passed on from generation to generation. It is one of the often-practiced traditional dances performed where the stick dance that represents the commitment of tribes is identified. Another favorite dance is ‘Khaleegy’ where ladies twirl their long tresses and bodies in time with the pulse of music. Today, the UAE is also a more welcoming place for foreign musicians because there are famous artists including Zayn Malik, Coldplay and Shakira who have been performing in the country.
Conventional Sports of the UAE
Traditional sports emerged from the life of the Bedouins and have been crucial for the everyday life and pastime activities of Emiratis over the years. Some of these are falconry, horse riding, camel riding, saluki and dhow racing – all of which cut across the culture and the historical perspective.
Falconry: Falconry has been practiced in the Emirates for an extended period. This is not only sport but the persistent and useful art of a hunter which produced useful skills for Bedouins in the desert wildlife. It is still an activity that many people love and helps in the preservation of Emirati culture through generations.
Horse & Camel Racing: Both horse and camel racing remains a culture and both are crowned with a shared history in the UAE. As they both symbolize speed, endurance and indeed a dependency of a Bedouin on these animals for transport and sustenance. The races are still an integral part of the culture of the people of Emirate country, as these dates of coming up with such events is a common affair in the year.
Saluki Racing: Salukis or desert hounds were part and parcel of the Bedouins’ lifestyle since history. In this way, Saluki racing has much in common with camel racing but concentrated on young hounds rather than camels.
Dhow Sailing: The tradition of Dhow races is related to the naval past of the UAE. These ancient wooden vessels were built primarily for pearl fishing and sailing; their races provide an opportunity to maintain and promote the tradition of the people’s sea lifestyle.
Attire
The clothes worn by the citizens of Emirati are quite a lot derived from the Islamic principle of decency and conservatism. The men and the women also dress in the general cases in body covering clothes. Women’s general dress code is “Abayah” which is a long well fitted black cloak worn over the body except on the hands, feet, and face. It is sometimes worn with “Niqab” and “Gafaaz.” Some women also sport a “Burqa” which is any garment worn in public to cover all skin which is exposed at the highest degree, as well as the woman’s face.
In the cases of the males, the traditional dress is also the ‘Kandura’ literally meaning the white male long robes and jelab while most of the time without special tops. In most situations, it is usually accompanied with a “Ghutra” head scarf. There have been some accounts where the length of the Kandura is considered as an indication of status with more wealthy people wearing longer sleeves. In busy cities, for example Dubai, the younger age and foreigners tend to wear more western such as denim and t-shirts.
Cuisine
The cuisines of the UAE are a mirror of the rich culture of the region, where many spices such as dates, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron stand out. One of the most interesting meals is Bedouin style recipe of camel which has been prepared uniquely inside with chickens, sheep and goats as stuffing. This is a dish which is generally made in special events since camel meat is costly.
Additionally, the following meals are also loved in UAE:
Harees: This is a delicate dish prepared from cracked wheat and meat and is served only on festive occasions like Evel and Ramadhan in morsels.
Kabsa: This consists of a number of dishes containing rice, vegetables and meat.
Maqluba: This consists of layers of meat, vegetables, and rice cooked in a pot in that order, but inverted before serving so that the last layer cooked appears on top. It is usually enjoyed with simple salad or yogurt or sauce.
You will find plenty of beautiful architectural wonders in the form of Dubai and Abu Dhabi as well as the rich, deep-fried shellfish and various other authentic foods of the UAE which are simply awesome.
The Best Ways to Learn About the UAE Culture Traditions
To optimize your stay and relate with the local people here are some of the 5 methods that you can use when you are in the UAE:
The Souks (The Markets)
Dive into the vibrancy of the traditional souks of the UAE. Stroll through the busy market places heavy on spices, textiles, gold and jewelry. Do not avoid the common activity of bargaining with them, it is quite an interesting practice. Simply enjoy exploring the sights, sounds and smells of the region which are all related to trade and commerce.
Go on a Desert Safari
The heritage of UAE is tied to the desert quite closely. It is a great way to experience the endless expanse of the sand dunes and engage in camel riding at night when the desert is at its most beautiful, during a desert safari. Conclude all with traditional Bedouin dinner beneath the stars and experience authenticity in Emirati hospitality and culture.
Visit Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Another must see in Abu Dhabi is the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Standing proudly in the midst of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is this magnificent structure described as the country’s signature building in terms of Islamic culture and faith. It is considered one of the largest mosque complexes in the world and welcomes people from other faiths and cultures with its beautiful architecture, large prayer areas and peaceful environments.
Savor Local Cuisine
Experience the wonderful delights of the UAE by “harvesting” its mouth-watering traditional dishes; shawarma, falafel, or a bowl of machboos (a special rice and meat course). The food has the influence of Arab and Persian and Indian food and you must experience it.
Attend a Cultural Event
In the UAE, there are lots of cultural festivals and events that take place yearly. For instance, the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair and the Dubai Shopping Festival and so many other events are amazing to witness and celebrate the region’s art and music and literature and fashion. They will provide inspiration and different ways of looking at the cultural setting in the UAE which is quite diverse.
These experiences will broaden your horizons and help you to learn how to interact better with people and their traditions.
Conclusion
To fully understand the interesting culture and customs of the UAE the person must engage in such activities as going to local souks, tasting the best local dishes, enjoying the modern architecture, and joining in cultural sports. Go on a safari in the deserts, visit the Sheikh Zayed Mosque or go for a cultural festival, the UAE embraces you in its lifestyle in many different ways. Engaging in this kind of experience would not only improve your journey but would also enable you to understand the countries’ culture more intimately.
