The United Arab Emirates, shortened to “the Emirates” and abbreviated to UAE is a federation of the seven emirates of Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain. UAE grew around the economies of fishing and pearling but in the 1960s oil began to be exported from the country and this provided the funding which enabled a great transformation in the economic and social make up of the country.

The official language is Arabic but English is widely spoken. The dominant religion is Islam and the laws of the country are a combination of Sharia law and civil courts. The largest state and capital city is Abu Dhabi.

Ancient History.

Archaeological evidence indicates that human settlement of the UAE area was established as early as 5000 BC. Ubaid pottery has been found in Ras al-Khaimah dating back to this time. Historical evidence points to these early settlers being nomadic cattle herders and farmers. In the first century AD trade was established in this coastal area.

In 630 AD followers of the prophet Muhammad brought Islam to the region. In the 16th Century the Portuguese gained control of the area in order to exert influence over the Indian Ocean trade routes. Portuguese hegemony in the Arabian Gulf continued for the next one hundred and fifty years but had a detrimental impact upon local trade and commerce. This led to uprisings against them and a gradual expulsion of their forces.

Modern History.

In the 18th and 19th centuries British and Indian ships were regularly accosted by pirates in the lower Persian Gulf which eventually led to the British referring to the region as the “Pirate Coast”. In 1853 a maritime peace treaty was agreed by the “Trucial Sheikhdoms”.  In 1892 the United Kingdom and the Trucial Sheikhdoms entered into another treaty establishing a relationship wherein Britain provided protection and received considerations in terms of receiving territories and controlling certain political decisions made within the country.

In the years that followed the pearling industry boomed in the peaceful maritime environment. Then came the First World War, the economic depression of the 1920s and 30s and the industry went into decline. The decline had a severe effect on the economy which was not helped when the Japanese invented the cultured pearl. In the 1960s however oil was discovered and the fortunes of the region began to shift dramatically. Profits from oil were put into infrastructure, education and improvements to quality of life.

In 1968 Britain ended the treaty arrangement. The Trucial Sheikdoms, Bahrain and Qatar made an attempt to join the emirates together but terms could not be satisfactorily agreed upon. Bahrain and Qatar ultimately became independent. On December 2nd 1971 the six remaining Sheikhdoms became the United Arab Emirates. Ras as-Khaimah joined in 1972. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi, was elected as the first President and Sheikh Rashid bin Said al Maktoum was made the first Prime Minister. 

Culture.

The UAE is one of the more liberal destinations in the Middle East where other religions and religious practices are tolerated. While Islam is the dominant religion it is permitted for non Muslims to eat pork and to drink alcohol. While it is not illegal to practice religions other than Islam within the UAE it is still illegal to proselytize. Avoid getting into religiously sensitive conversations.

Muslim women in UAE wear the traditional hijab of an abayah (usually black) and sometimes also a niqab. Men usually wear a long white robe (thobe) and a headdress. In many parts of the Middle East tourists are expected to conform to the Muslim customs of dress much more closely than in UAE but it should be remembered that some states are more tolerant than others. In Sharjah the attitude is much more strict than in Dubai.

As a general rule female tourists should avoid figure hugging clothing such as tank tops and choose below the knee hem lines. Tops should have sleeves below the elbow and modest necklines. Men should avoid shorts and not have their torsos bare.

Couples should keep public displays of affection low key and more so during the holy month of Ramadan. Do not eat and drink in public during Ramadan.

Food.

Unlike in other areas of the Middle East the drinking of alcoholic beverages is not flatly illegal in UAE. Alcohol is available all over the UAE and very widely available in Dubai. However drinking in public or being intoxicated in public are both criminal offences.

In order to buy alcohol from an off license a permit would be required to prove you are a non Muslim resident. For visitors to the country however most hotels have bars where alcoholic drinks are served to their guests. Restaurants and nightclubs also serve drinks. The exception is Sharjah which is a dry emirate where only expats with licenses are permitted to drink within their own homes. Some hotels will not serve alcohol during Ramadan.

A great variety of cosmopolitan cuisine is available in the UAE from Mexican to Japanese all at a huge selection of fashionable restaurants. If you want more authentic Middle Eastern fare then look for restaurants and cafes catering specifically to this cuisine. Dishes such as Ma’louba, Harees, Arsee’ah, Fireed, Jisheid and Machbous are traditional Emirati foods. Stews are common as is chicken, goat meat, seafood and, on special occasions, camel meat.

Whilst it is against the Muslim religion to consume pork the UAE is a tolerant country so it is not a forbidden product. Most menus will have this meat clearly listed when a dish contains it, Many hotels avoid serving pork by giving their guests sausages made of beef and bacon made from veal. A traditional Emirati breakfast would be bread and cheese served with date syrup and eggs.

Desserts include khabeesa (pudding made from cream of wheat) and bethitha (semolina and dates). After meals red tea with mint is often served as a digestive aid. Tea and gahwah (Arabic coffee) is sometimes flavored with mint, cardamom or saffron.

All major fast food chains are set up in the country. An alternative choice for a quick bite to eat is to grab a sandwich or shawarma from a corner stall.

Geography.

The UAE is situated on the south eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the west, Qatar to the north, the Persian Gulf to the east and Oman and parts of Saudi Arabia to the South. The UAE has 700km of coastline along the Persian Gulf and the salt pans of this coast line extend far inland.

The UAE occupies 83, 600 sq km four fifths of which is desert. Many contrasting landscapes exist in the region despite the prevalence of desert from the oases to the coral reefs to the Hajjar mountains which are the highest in the eastern Arabian peninsula.

Politics.

The UAE has no political parties. Since the region was established in 1971 the Federal aspects of governance have developed and expanded however each emir still retains autonomy over their own state and its revenue. A portion of funding from each emirate is given to a central budget.

Successive leaders of emirates are appointed by hereditary monarchial dynasty.  The seven leaders form the Supreme Council of Rulers. From these seven the king of Abu Dhabi has always been elected President and the king of Dubai has always been elected Prime Minister.

General policies and federal legislation is decided by this Federal Supreme Council of the seven ruling monarchs. The Federal National Council consultative body has forty members. Twenty of these are appointed by the emirs and the other twenty are elected by voters who are chosen by the emirs. These forty members are charged with reviewing legislation but they are not able to block or alter it.

The position of President is currently held by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ruler of Abu Dhabi. The position of Prime Minister is accordingly held by the ruler of Dubai, Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Weather.

The weather in UAE is hot from April right through to November. The rest of the year is cooler but never gets truly cold.

The climate in the United Arab Emirates is sub-tropical with hot, humid summers (June to September) and warm winters (November to April). Temperatures reach above 40C in summer and dip to the low twenties during winter. Short showers are the extent of the rainfall in the region and the wettest months are February and March. Thunderstorms and sandstorms can occur in summer. Humidity in the costal regions regularly climbs above eighty percent in the summer.

Wildlife.

In the desert which occupies the majority of the UAE plant life is scarce but some species of halophyte vegetation are adapted to thrive in the saline ground. Further out from the coast the landscape becomes sandy plains. Around the oases grow acacias, eucalyptus trees and date palms.

The mountain regions become more fertile with altitude, eventually culminating in woodland. In the mountains a variety of wildlife can also be observed such as vultures, mountain gazelle, lizards and the Arabian Tahr.

Off the coast UAE has a huge diversity of sea life including whales, dolphins, sea turtles and sea snakes. Diving the coral reefs is a popular activity as is catching sightings of rare species including the world’s second largest population of dugongs.

Many species of wildlife in the region approached extinction or, as in the case of the Arabian leopard, actually disappeared altogether. This was the result of prolific hunting. In the 1970s Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan initiated a conservation program which has ensured the survival of species such as the Arabian Oryx in the region. Balancing environmental conservation with progressive industry is an ongoing concern for the federation but it is cracking down on construction and quarrying pollution and over fishing.