The Do’s and Don’ts for Tourists in the UAE
With millions of tourists that visit each year, the UAE has learnt to adapt to the many different people, cultures and religions that come here. But there are more than a few who make quite a number of cultural or religious blunders. While mistakes are normal and shouldn’t be taken too seriously when travelling, here are the basic do’s and don’ts when visiting the UAE to keep you on your feet.
Do travel solo in the UAE – it’s perfectly safe and normal
Many people think that because the UAE is in the Middle East, it’s a dangerous place to visit. However, this is completely false. Quite the opposite, it’s one of the safest countries in the world, and is the perfect place to go for solo travellers who want to feel completely safe and welcome.
Don’t show too much PDA when outside in public with your partner or spouse
In respect to the local culture, try not to do too much in the way of public displays of affection with your partner or spouse as it is extremely uncommon to do so in the UAE. In some extreme cases, couples who have gone a little too far in public have even been arrested for indecency.
Do eat the street food
While in some countries, eating street food can land you in the hospital (or the loo), the street food in the UAE is almost always perfectly clean and absolutely delicious. Local favourites include a shawarma wrap, Emirati-style savoury crepes and piping hot fried doughnuts.
Don’t get drunk or drink too much alcohol in public
Alcohol is not completely banned, as places with a licence can sell drinks. However, it is against the law to get drunk in public. When you’re visiting the UAE, think carefully about where you are drinking, always be discreet and do not get drunk.
Do visit a mosque – it’s a great way to learn about the local religion and culture
Many tourists feel a bit intimidated and do not end up visiting the many mosques in the UAE. It is perfectly normal and even encouraged to visit the mosques in the country to learn about the local religion and culture – especially with famous mosques such as the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which will leave you wanting to visit more.
Do dress modestly when visiting a mosque
However, it is important that when you do visit a mosque, you dress modestly in order to show respect to those who visit the mosque to pray and worship. For women, this usually means long pants or skirts with a large shawl, and for men, this usually means long, baggy pants and long sleeves.
Do greet everyone you meet, either in English or in Arabic by saying salamu alaykum
It is a strong tradition among local Emiratis to engage in long and colourful greetings. Do feel free to say hi to both locals and residents, and if you’re feeling brave, try saying hello in Arabic, which is “Salamu alaykum”.
Don’t initiate a handshake when meeting with the opposite gender unless they initiate it first
One thing to always remember is that the divisions between genders can be quite marked – especially if you have never travelled to the UAE before. Remember not to initiate touching of the opposite gender unless they go to shake your hand first.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.
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