country profile
COuntry Profile
uae-dubai
![Picture](/uploads/3/9/3/6/39362409/6029021_orig.png)
What’s up with…?
Geography: United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in the continent of Southwest Asia and regarded as a country in the Middle East. It is sunny most of the year, perfect weather for travelling. Due to the fact that Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert, the summers are extremely hot, humid and very dry, whereas winters are warm and short. During winter, it is about 23⁰C in the day and 14⁰C in the night.
History: UAE was formed officially on 1971 after Federation. Sheikh Zayed was the founder of UAE. The seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Rasal- Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwan) all have their own separate ruler
Economy: The currency in UAE is Dirham. UAE’s economy is the second largest economy in the Arab world. Tourism and exports such as natural resources is the main source of income.
Stereotypes, myths and facts
Myth: UAE is filled with Arabs, only Muslims live in UAE
Fact: It is an ethnically diverse country, while there are a lot of Muslims, UAE and in particular Dubai is home to Indians, Africans, Chinese and people from all over the globe of different ethnic backgrounds. It is a multicultural country.
Myth: Burqas=Muslim and Muslim= Terrorist. Therefore Dubai is home to terrorists.
Fact: Dubai is a safe city where everyone is friendly and warm to each other. There is threat of terrorism in almost all countries, so because of the action of a few, we shouldn’t make assumptions about a particular group of people since most Muslims are kind and friendly.
How to make friends: opportunities to meet new people
Dubai is the central city for business, finance, commerce but is also known for its tourist attractions and nightlife, so meeting someone on your trip will not be unusual and it is also easy to socialise in Dubai. Meeting people in Dubai in business conferences is not unusual, people from all over the world travel to Dubai for business meetings. But, it is important to remember that when meeting someone in Dubai at a business conference, you greet them with business etiquettes. Dubai also has many world famous bars/nightclubs and offering a drink to someone is a perfect way to start a conversation.
Cultcha Vultcha: What to expect
While Dubai is a modern city, certain ways of behaviour is expected amongst foreign travellers. Since Islam is the dominant religion in UAE and Dubai, kissing in public, wearing too revealing clothes, drinking alcohol during Ramadan are a few examples of behaviour that is considered unethical and can land you in trouble. Outside the house, most foreign women can dress in western clothes but conservatively. Bikinis are only acceptable on the beach. If you are anywhere near a mosque, clothing like short shorts and crop tops are not acceptable.
Most people in Dubai know how to speak English, but when meeting someone for the first time of Arab descent, it is a good idea to start with “Salam Alaykum”. It means peace be unto you, a form of greeting in the Middle East. If someone says “Salam Alaykum” to you, you should reply saying “Walaikum salam”. When greeting someone, men shake their hands and make a general inquiry about the person’s health and their family. This is formality and not an invasion of privacy. During Ramadan, food outlets may also be closed, travellers should ensure that if they are travelling to Dubai during the festive time then they do not eat food in front of the others who are fasting.
You have to go…
Burj Khalifa is one of the world’s most well-known buildings. It is the tallest man made building in the world, it is a massive 829.8 metres tall. Over one million people visit this wonderful attraction each year. It offers a magnificent view with the world's highest observatory deck. Another place holding religious significance is Jumeirah Mosque. It is the only mosque in UAE that is open to non-Muslims. It is made out of stone and it is considered an example of modern Islamic Architecture. This attractive mosque is a perfect way to enhance your understanding of different religions and their traditions. Tours are offered every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday commencing at 10am.
Up for the challenge!!!
Some of the most culturally challenging aspects of this travel is adapting to Dubai’s culture and traditions. As a foreigner, especially a female, it may be difficult not to wear too revealing clothes such as short shorts in the hot weather, but it is important to understand that it is not considered ethical. Another challenging aspect is not having enough access to food outlets when travelling to Dubai during Ramadan that is why it important to ensure that you carry enough food with you if going out. A rewarding aspect of visiting Dubai is learning the culture and traditions in the Arab world. You can develop your vocabulary by learning some phrases in Arabic and also have a lifelong experience in a metropolitan city in the centre of the Arab Desert.
Geography: United Arab Emirates (UAE) is located in the continent of Southwest Asia and regarded as a country in the Middle East. It is sunny most of the year, perfect weather for travelling. Due to the fact that Dubai lies directly within the Arabian Desert, the summers are extremely hot, humid and very dry, whereas winters are warm and short. During winter, it is about 23⁰C in the day and 14⁰C in the night.
History: UAE was formed officially on 1971 after Federation. Sheikh Zayed was the founder of UAE. The seven emirates (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Rasal- Khaimah and Umm al-Qaiwan) all have their own separate ruler
Economy: The currency in UAE is Dirham. UAE’s economy is the second largest economy in the Arab world. Tourism and exports such as natural resources is the main source of income.
Stereotypes, myths and facts
Myth: UAE is filled with Arabs, only Muslims live in UAE
Fact: It is an ethnically diverse country, while there are a lot of Muslims, UAE and in particular Dubai is home to Indians, Africans, Chinese and people from all over the globe of different ethnic backgrounds. It is a multicultural country.
Myth: Burqas=Muslim and Muslim= Terrorist. Therefore Dubai is home to terrorists.
Fact: Dubai is a safe city where everyone is friendly and warm to each other. There is threat of terrorism in almost all countries, so because of the action of a few, we shouldn’t make assumptions about a particular group of people since most Muslims are kind and friendly.
How to make friends: opportunities to meet new people
Dubai is the central city for business, finance, commerce but is also known for its tourist attractions and nightlife, so meeting someone on your trip will not be unusual and it is also easy to socialise in Dubai. Meeting people in Dubai in business conferences is not unusual, people from all over the world travel to Dubai for business meetings. But, it is important to remember that when meeting someone in Dubai at a business conference, you greet them with business etiquettes. Dubai also has many world famous bars/nightclubs and offering a drink to someone is a perfect way to start a conversation.
Cultcha Vultcha: What to expect
While Dubai is a modern city, certain ways of behaviour is expected amongst foreign travellers. Since Islam is the dominant religion in UAE and Dubai, kissing in public, wearing too revealing clothes, drinking alcohol during Ramadan are a few examples of behaviour that is considered unethical and can land you in trouble. Outside the house, most foreign women can dress in western clothes but conservatively. Bikinis are only acceptable on the beach. If you are anywhere near a mosque, clothing like short shorts and crop tops are not acceptable.
Most people in Dubai know how to speak English, but when meeting someone for the first time of Arab descent, it is a good idea to start with “Salam Alaykum”. It means peace be unto you, a form of greeting in the Middle East. If someone says “Salam Alaykum” to you, you should reply saying “Walaikum salam”. When greeting someone, men shake their hands and make a general inquiry about the person’s health and their family. This is formality and not an invasion of privacy. During Ramadan, food outlets may also be closed, travellers should ensure that if they are travelling to Dubai during the festive time then they do not eat food in front of the others who are fasting.
You have to go…
Burj Khalifa is one of the world’s most well-known buildings. It is the tallest man made building in the world, it is a massive 829.8 metres tall. Over one million people visit this wonderful attraction each year. It offers a magnificent view with the world's highest observatory deck. Another place holding religious significance is Jumeirah Mosque. It is the only mosque in UAE that is open to non-Muslims. It is made out of stone and it is considered an example of modern Islamic Architecture. This attractive mosque is a perfect way to enhance your understanding of different religions and their traditions. Tours are offered every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday commencing at 10am.
Up for the challenge!!!
Some of the most culturally challenging aspects of this travel is adapting to Dubai’s culture and traditions. As a foreigner, especially a female, it may be difficult not to wear too revealing clothes such as short shorts in the hot weather, but it is important to understand that it is not considered ethical. Another challenging aspect is not having enough access to food outlets when travelling to Dubai during Ramadan that is why it important to ensure that you carry enough food with you if going out. A rewarding aspect of visiting Dubai is learning the culture and traditions in the Arab world. You can develop your vocabulary by learning some phrases in Arabic and also have a lifelong experience in a metropolitan city in the centre of the Arab Desert.