All About the Arab Cultural Norms & Customs in the Country of UAE

Facts about the UAE as a nation

The United Arab Emirates used to be a region inhabited by seafaring men who were converted to Islam, today their culture is known as the Emirati culture which is influenced by the Persian and the Arabian cultures. The same goes for the Emirati architecture which is also a blend of the both.

Also, expats from around 200 nations live in the UAE, about two-thirds of them belong to Asia, typically, India, Pakistan, the Philippines and Bangladesh.

All about the culture and society in the UAE

Religion in the UAE

Before the entry of Islam, the people of this part of the world followed polytheism, Christianity, Judaism and the Iranian religions. Mainly, Sunni Muslim religion is followed in the UAE while the law of the land is according to Sharia. But the country is tolerant towards other religions too, so you can find Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Christians also existing there.

The unique cuisine of the UAE

The original cuisine of this region consisted of fish, rice, breads, dates, yogurt, vegetables and meat. But with time, many imported foods have become a part of the daily diet of the Emirati people. Today’s Emirati cuisine is a blend of the traditional and modern, which is better in quality and variety. Lunch is the most important daily meal for the Emirates and they like to enjoy it with their families around 2 pm.

Business communication in the UAE

The Emiratis start business communication with small talk while it is not recommended to hurry in the matters of business in the UAE as the nationals base their business deals mainly on the basis of trust. It is recommended that you get to know the other person with a friendly conversation by showing interest in his life. Rent a car through UAE Rental Cars to manage your transfers during your business trips.

Acceptable dress code in the UAE

To be on the safer side, you must dress up conservatively while in the UAE. For business meetings, sharp formals are recommended and women should make sure that they wear full-sleeved conservative yet smart formals. It is illegal to wear revealing clothes in the UAE but Dubai is a little more tolerable compared to other parts of the country.

Arab Cultural Values in the UAE

The cultural values followed by the Arabs are different from the rest of the world. Most of the beliefs followed by the Arabs are according to Islam and if you are coming to the UAE from the west then their values might be very different from yours. It is always a good idea to get accustomed to theirs before so as to not offend any local or law.

Family in the UAE

For the people of the UAE, family is the most important part of life. The Arab kids are trained to be loyal to their family in any circumstances. Also, individual needs are not given as much importance as the needs of a group or family. The social image of an individual is directly linked to their family’s reputation. So, most of the locals behave decently in public.