UAE Culture

After reviewing endless websites and other sources of information, I was given the following notes and am reposting them here. Very little of this is going to affect our daily lives in the UAE. It will be useful in dealing with the Emiratis from time to time.

Emiratis are Muslim, and Arabic is the official language. Although culture and traditions are firmly rooted in Islam, UAE is open and tolerant of other cultures. English is commonly used in business and government transactions and among expatriates. Other languages spoken include Hindi, Urdu, Persian, Malayalam, and Tagalog.

The traditional greeting is as-salam alaykum (may peace be with you). The proper response is walaykum as-salam (and peace be with you). Men greet one another by shaking hands and touching noses. Women greet one another by kissing both cheeks.

Friends and family members of the same gender address one another by first name. Acquaintenances and members of the opposite sex address one another using professional titles, Sayed (Mr.) or Sayeda (Mrs.) before first names and Um (mother of) or Abu (father of) before name of the eldest son.

Emiratis use the right hand for eating, gesturing, giving and receiving items, and shaking hands. The left hand is considered unclean because it traditionally is used for personal hygiene. Using the left hand is considered impolite. Pointing fingers and giving the "thumbs up" gesture are impolite. Instead Emiratis point with the entire hand. Crossing legs with sitting, pointing feet at someone, and exposing the bottom of the soles are also offensive.

Modesty is important. Men and women tend to wear traditional, conservative attire. Women wear abayas (black robes) and shailahs (head and face covering) in public. Older, married, more conservative women may wear burqas (black masks covering nose and mouth). Men wear white robes called dishdashes and light cloth headdresses called ghutras with black headbands called agals. Female visitors should cover as much skin as possible. Baggy, loose-fitting trousers and long skirts are acceptable. Males should wear conservative business suits. When not wearing business attire, men should at least cover back, shoulders, and tops of arms.

It is customary to remove shoes before entering homes. Generally the wife will not be present. If she is, hosts often invite male guests into the living room and female guests into another room to socialize with the wife. In households where everyone is in the same room, familiar interaction between male guests and the hosts's wife is inappropriate.

Express appreciation at meals and always accept refreshments such as coffee or tea. When hosting, always offer such refreshments. Refusing to offer or accept is considered impolite. Shaking the cup gently from side to side signifies that you have had enough to drink.

Traditional meals are eaten on the floor without utensils. However it is okay for guests to request utensils. Family and guests sit in a circle in such a way that hides the bottom of the feet. The food sits in the middle of the circle. Guests should leave shortly after the meal because hanging around after the meal is impolite. When invited to a restaurant, the host pays the bill. Generally, a tip of ten percent is appropriate.

Bargaining or haggling is normal and expected in small shops and souks, not in franchises and large European chain stores. Shoppers should have an idea what an item is worth or what they are willing to pay beforehand. If negotiated in a polite and respectful manner, prices may come down considerably from the original quote. After vendors agree to a price, negotiating further is insulting and leaving empty handed is impolite.