Tourists should be careful when planning for a trip in a place where lifestyles and customs are foreign. The globe is colorful as a rainbow. It is full of diverse cultures, one unique from another. Some lifestyle and customs of your country that is deemed appropriate might be deemed insulting in another. This is why, traveler’s should always get to know their host country before visiting.

Abu Dhabi has become one of the world’s greatest places to visit. The city, the largest and most populous in UAE, is known for its wide range of attractions. Islands with pristine beaches are easy to reach in the city. Abu Dhabi is also known for its ambitious architectural success. The city is also the heart of UAE culture as many events are still being held to pay honor its historical roots. Within reach of Abu Dhabi, just a few hours drive is Sir Bani Yas Island, best known for its wildlife preserves.

Before jumping on the plane and get excited about all these wonderful places, get to know more about Abu Dhabi’s culture, lifestyle and social customs. Again, some of gestures might be appropriate for other cultures that might be deemed inappropriate in Abu Dhabi.

Culture and Lifestyle

Abu Dhabi and the whole of UAE is an Islamic country. Therefore, Islamic traditions are being upheld in the country. Ramadan is being observed in the country. Ramadan usually falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from food, drinking and smoking from dawn to dusk. Not only this, in general, they are to abstain from any activities that are not are not well-suited to Islamic values. And although non-Muslims are not subjected to this tradition, it would be disrespectful to deliberately show how they enjoy their food and other activities to Muslims during this time.

Locals wear their traditional dresses. Men wear a long, collarless white gown known as Dishdasha with a headdress known as Guthra. Women on the other hand wear black Abayas over their clothing. Elder married women sometimes wear traditional Muslim clothing, the burkha. Visitors to Abu Dhabi are expected to abide by local standards of modesty however, do not adopt native clothing. Traditional clothes on foreigners may be offensive.

Social Customs

Social customs in Abu Dhabi and the whole of UAE are very different than the West and in Europe, so tourists should be careful with their gestures.

Hand Shake

In the West and other parts of the world, handshakes are commonly used during the business meetings, whatever gender. In the UAE, handshakes are also commonly used, in fact, it is deemed rude when handshakes are not made after a meeting. However, when meeting a woman for the first time; do not offer your hand, better to wait for the woman to offer her hand, as this means that she is giving you permission.

Refreshments

It is customary for Arabians to offer refreshments for their guests when they enter their homes or in a business meeting. It is considered rude when one declines the offer.

Complimenting

In other parts of the world, complementing is just for complementing. In the UAE, openly admiring something in the home of your hosts such as a piece of furniture render the host to offer the certain thing to you or give a gift with similar stature and value of the thing to you. And again, rejecting a gift is considered rude.

Respect

Women are very well respected in the culture of Islam. Make sure you give women an option where to sit and when leaving, always let them be ahead of you in the doors. Women in the UAE are given equal rights as men. Like women, the elders are also very well respected in the Arab world.

The values of the UAE society are embedded in its Islamic traditions. Its culture, social customs, traditional dresses and architectural styles are all reflections of Islamic traditions. Abu Dhabi and the whole of UAE is becoming one of the biggest metropolises in the world and yet manage to preserve its culture and values.