Clothing Many Emirati men and women prefer traditional Emirati clothes: the
kandura and
abaya. Traditional clothing is designed for comfort in high temperatures and to keep with the Islamic
religious beliefs in the country. Clothing that cover more parts of the body from the sunlight is preferred. Ballgowns are common in this area. Ballgowns are commonly adorned with silver and gold. Colourful embroidered dressing is common during occasions such as weddings or dancing. A common dance in the Gulf Arab countries is the Khaleeji folk dance—also knows as the Al Ayyala dance—which entails rows of women in close proximity to one another who move in a slow fashion while rhythmically swaying their hair from side to side. The dress is an important aspect of this dance.
Diet The Emirati diet is a mixture of a
Bedouin diet (
meat and
camel milk), a fishermen's diet (fish), and a farmer's diet (
dates). These foods, along with key spices, such as
cinnamon,
saffron, and
turmeric, form the basis of both historical and modern Emirati cuisine.
Vegetables that are easy to grow, such as
cucumbers and
tomatoes, are featured prominently in the diet. Dried lemons, called
loomi, are grown locally and used in numerous dishes.
Mangoes are also grown in the northern emirates. Meats traditionally used include
chicken or small
fowl, such as
Houbara bustards, and goats. Since camels are highly prized for milk and as a means of transportation,
camel meat is normally reserved for special occasions. Muslims do not eat bacon, ham or pork, and they do not drink alcoholic beverages.
Harees is a national specialty; it is a porridge-like dish often served in Ramadan or during large celebrations like weddings. It is made with wheat, meat (or chicken) and salted water. Other popular dishes include fouga, kabsa and
luqemat. Common Middle Eastern cuisine is also widely available. Due to the cosmopolitan nature of the United Arab Emirates, the most popular street-side snack is the Middle-Eastern
shawarma.
Greetings and social customs When entering a
Majlis, guests will start greeting individuals from the right side to the left side of the room, unless there is an elderly guests, who should be greeted first.The most common greeting is "As-salamu alaykum," which means "Peace be upon you." The response is "Wa alaykum as-salam," meaning "And upon you be peace." For men, the traditional Emirati greeting is the
khushmak, or touching of the noses. Women greet each other by shaking hands and giving a kiss on the cheek. Kissing the top of the head is also a common way of greeting in the UAE. Members of the opposite gender should not embrace unless they are closely related.
Literature Poetry Based on their educational backgrounds and historical environment, Emirati poetry is divided into three main periods. The Bedouin oral poetry, especially
Nabati poetry, has been a significant part of the UAE's cultural heritage. This form of poetry is traditionally passed down through generations and often reflects the values, history, and daily life of the Bedouin people and the Emirati folklore, including stories of
jinn (spirits) and other supernatural beings, is another traditional literary form . Initially, the generation that emerged in the early 1900s did not have any official education, but they made significant contributions to Emirati literature, especially in the style of Arabic poetry known as
qaṣīdah. However, because of the lack of resources and printing skills available at the time, a large portion of their labor is still undocumented. Second, as the UAE's population moved from rural to urban areas in the middle of the 20th century, their literary expressions also changed. Finally, a golden age of Emirati poets is represented by the post-oil, modern generation, who were primarily educated at universities. Themes in Emirati poetry are diverse, ranging from
satire,
self-praise, and
patriotism, to
chivalry,
religion,
family, and
love.
Drama Of all the literary forms, dramatic literature seems to be the least popular among Emiratis. Like poetry, there are two main genres that Emirati drama falls into. The first category, popular drama, may only appeal to Emirati readers because it is written in the
Emirati dialect. On the other hand,
Tawfiq al-Hakim, an Egyptian playwright, set the blueprint for the second category, which is known as intellectual drama. Because they are written in
standard Arabic, these dramatic works are accessible to a wider readership. Both types of Emirati drama add distinctive viewpoints and creative expressions to the UAE's cultural scene, despite their difficulties in gaining general recognition.
Music, dance, and film , which is a cultural dance derived from Arab tribes sword battles. The United Arab Emirates is a part of the Arab
khaleeji tradition.
Yowlah, a type of music and dance also known as Al-Ayyala, has been registered by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014. One of the UAE's most famous traditional singers is
Mehad Hamad, who is known for singing patriotic lyrics and poems about the desert. Many traditional songs and dances, handed down from generation to generation, have survived to the present time. Young girls would dance by swinging their hair, which was traditionally worn long, and swaying their bodies. Men often re-enacted battles or successful hunting expeditions using a
weapon dance; such as the
Yowlah.
Sports in 2006.
Football is the most popular sport in the UAE. Emirati football clubs
Al-Ain,
Al-Wasl,
Al Nasr,
Al-Sharjah,
Al-Wahda, and
Shabab Al-Ahli are the most popular teams and enjoy reputations as long-time regional champions. The
UAE national football team qualified for the
FIFA World Cup in
1990 along with
Egypt. It was the third consecutive World Cup with two Arab nations qualifying, after
Kuwait and
Algeria in
1982, and
Iraq and
Algeria again in
1986. The UAE also won the
Arabian Gulf Cup held in
Abu Dhabi in January 2007. Recognized by
UNESCO as living human heritage,
falconry has evolved into a revered sport and cultural tradition within the UAE. Owners of falcons place great value on their falcons, considering them to be valued family members and trusted companions. With an estimated 5000 falconers in the country, a community is bounded by a shared passion for this sport. Through events such as the International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition (ADIHEX), the
UAE government actively supports and promotes falconry, highlighting its value as a sport and a treasured heritage.The importance of falconry in the United Arab Emirates is further highlighted by the existence of specialist institutions like the
Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital. Inhabitants of
Arab States of the Persian Gulf have enjoyed
camel racing for many years, and it is considered a traditional sport. Formalizing camel racing was one way of maintaining its central role in UAE life. In the past, UAE had a reputation for
exploiting South Asians as jockeys. However,
robot jockeys are now used after strict government regulations were passed prohibiting underage jockeys from racing. The UAE now has no fewer than 15 race tracks across the seven emirates.
Nad Al Sheba Racecourse, 10 kilometers outside of Dubai,
Al Wathba, 30 kilometers south-east of Abu Dhabi, and
Al Ain track, which is 20 kilometers west of Al Ain, are all large, well-equipped camel tracks with high-tech facilities. Two smaller tracks are located in Sharjah, one in Ra's al-Khaimah and one in Umm al-Qaiwain. Others are spread throughout the desert areas.
Holidays A lot of holidays in the UAE include
Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of
Ramadan, Eid Al-Adha and Arafah Day, both of which are celebrated during the Hajj period, the UAE
National Day on December 2 and 3, which marks the formation of the United Arab Emirates, New Year on January 1, Commemoration Day on November 30 to honour those who died fighting for the UAE, the Islamic (Hijri) New Year, and the Prophet's Birthday (Mawlid). ==See also==