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United Arab Emirates (UAE): Dubai Traditions and customs
Craft
Do not expect to find a local craft inherited the Bedouins. The crafts found in the souks of the old city or tourist hotels are all imported from the UAE and neighboring countries (India, Iran, Oman). The hookah with decorated metal trays, to the leather slippers, objects and products are not unique.
In general, visitors reported from Dubai boxes of dates, gold, pashminas, Indian fabrics, spices, Iranian carpets, Iranian caviar (depending on price changes) or the consumer electronics.
Public Holidays
Since 1 September 2006, the day of the weekend is Friday and Saturday for all government institutions, as well as some private companies.
National Day takes place on December 2 each year. It commemorates the creation of the Federation of UAE.
Religion
In the UAE, the official religion is Islam. Dubai has so many mosques. Prayer rooms are even installed in shopping malls to conduct one of the five daily prayers between two shopping malls.
The city also has two Christian churches: St Mary's (Roman Catholic) and Holy Trinity (Church of England).
Manners and customs
Dress Code
The men wear a long white cotton loose movements and mangoes long, which falls to the ankle, known as the dishdasha, or gandourah Kandoura. This is the most common traditional clothing in the UAE, tailored to the religious beliefs of the region and high temperatures. In winter, dishdasha may be darker and thicker.
As for the UAE women, they are also a dishdasha, a dress with long sleeves often embroidered son of gold, silver or bright colors.
It is advisable to wear appropriate clothing out of respect for your hosts. Short sleeves and shorts are tolerated very hot weather as well as swimwear at the beach and pool. Women should, however, prefer the shirt complete with two-piece.
Greetings
The best way to greet a man to shake his hand up. A man shakes hands with a Muslim woman (and vice versa) is considered unacceptable in most circles.
Photos
Avoid photographing members of local authorities, Muslim women, military installations and government buildings.
Sensitive issues
Do not criticize Islam, local authorities or Palestine (the UAE are pro-Palestinian).
History
Once inhabited by Bedouins of the desert shepherds in the mountains and arid pearl, Dubai is today's prosperity to oil. Main port of the Gulf from 1870 to 1940 and a hub of trade beads and other products of the region, Dubai is experiencing a rapid economic development with the discovery of black gold. The reserves were discovered in Dubai in 1966, the first exports began in 1969.
It was then that Great Britain announced its withdrawal from the region. In 1971, the emirates of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Umm al-Quwain, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah formed the federation of United Arab Emirates.
Engaged in a diversification of economic activities without precedent (international finance, trade zones, re-export, tourism), Dubai expects the phasing out of oil.
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