History and Culture

History of the U.A.E.

The history of the U.A.E. is both rich and colorful.  On the history page you will find information about the early history of the region and the people, the radical changes resulting from the discovery of oil, and a current profile of this exciting, rapidly changing country.

Recommended Reading: 

The U.A.E. Ministry of Information and Culture has commissioned a book, available online.  The United Arab Emirates Yearbook provides wonderful insights and pictorial information about the country, its history and people. 

Islam

The culture and traditions of the U.A.E. are firmly grounded in the Islamic heritage of the Arab region.  Islam believes that there is only one God and that Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him) is his messenger.  The word “islam” means submission and refers to submission to God’s will.  It comes from the same root as the word for peace.

Islam refers to the religion; Muslim refers to those who practice the religion.

The Holy Qur'an (the book of Islam; “recitation”) was revealed to the Prophet during a period of twenty three years from 609 to 632, the year of his death.   

There are five pillars of Islam which all Muslims must follow:

• Faith - Belief in the Oneness of God and the Messenger-ship of Muhammad
• Prayer - To observe the daily prayers regularly
• Charity - To pay the religious tax which is known as alms
• Fasting - To keep the fast of the Holy Month of Ramadan
• Pilgrimage (Haj) - To make a pilgrimage to the Holy City of Mecca at least once in one's lifetime

Islam is a faith of positive action and a way of living as well as a belief system.  Religion is an integral part of daily life for Muslims. 

The Islamic holy day is Friday.

Muslims are required to pray five times daily, facing Mecca. The regular call to prayer can be heard through loudspeakers on the top of the minarets of mosques throughout the communities.  People may pray at a mosque but you will also see people at prayer in other locations or even at the side of the road.  It is courteous not to stare and to walk politely around their prayer rugs.  You must not walk directly in front of a praying person.

While the U.A.E. is a Muslim country, they are very tolerant of other religions and a diverse range of churches and places of worship can be found. 

Dubai Code of Conduct

The Dubai Code of Conductdocument was created by the Dubai government to inform people about the local customs and standards.  It provides good information to familiarize yourself with the cultural expectations of this region. There are slight differences between Emirates, however, this is a good general guide for all.

Ramadan

Ramadan is the month where Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Holy Qur'an.

During Ramadan (the exact dates move forward by approximately eleven days each year), Muslims do not eat or drink between sunrise and sunset. In the evening at sundown, the fast is broken with “iftar” (literally “break fast”).  Visitors, including non-Muslims, may not eat, drink or smoke in public places during this time.  Most restaurants are closed during the day, although hotels continue to serve food to its guests, either in uests rooms or in a secluded area of the hotel.  Additionally, the sale of alcohol is restricted to after sunset, many shops and parks open and close later, some office hours are reduced, and no dancing or live music is allowed.

It is a time when “day becomes night, and night becomes day”.  Ramadan tents are erected all over the cities and in hotels.  People from all nationalities gather in the evenings to eat traditional Arabic food and sweets or to smoke shisha.

In 2008, the holy month of Ramadan is expected to begin on September 1.  It concludes with a three-day holiday, Eid Al Fitr celebrating the breaking of the fast.

Language

Arabic is the official language of the U.A.E.  English, Urdu and Hindi are widely spoken.  Arabic is the official business of government and business (official documents are often in Arabic).  However, English is predominantly spoken and used.  You can function extremely well in the U.A.E. without learning a word of Arabic, although learning common greetings and phrases will be received with warmth.  There are numerous language training programs and institutes to choose from.

Roads signs are in both Arabic and English, as are menus and most printed materials. 

National Dress

The national or traditional dress for men is the dishdasha or khandura, an ankle length shirt, typically white. Dishdashas are usually worn with a white or red-checkered head cloth known as a gutra and a twisted black rope-like coil, the agal.  Under the headdress is a skull cap (gafia).
	In public, national women are very elegant in the black abaya, a long, flowing black robe that covers their normal clothes, plus a head scarf, called a shayla. Some women also wear a thin black veil covering their face, while some older women wear a small mask made of fabric known as a burkha, which covers the nose, brow and cheekbones (however, this is now less common).   Under the abaya, modern women wear the very latest in international fashions.
The dress code for non nationals is much the same as in your own country.  Out of respect for the local culture a somewhat higher level of modesty is recommended.  Certainly, shorts, skirts, and short-sleeved shirts are quite acceptable. Tight or revealing clothing may be worn but may attract unwanted attention.  Keep in mind that Abu Dhabi and Sharjah are more conservative than Dubai -- as are the more rural areas-- and dress accordingly.

Historical Time Line

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