The UAE is a Muslim-majority country where ~88% of the population is foreign-born (Emirati nationals 11.5%, plus India 38%, Pakistan 17%, Bangladesh, Philippines, Iran, Egypt, Nepal, China, and more). That combination shapes every cultural quirk — Islamic norms are the legal baseline, but daily life is international and tolerant.
Core background
- Official language: Arabic / Lingua franca: English, also Hindi. Business, government, and daily life work mostly in English.
- Weekend: Saturday + Sunday (adopted 2022 — previously Friday + Saturday). Friday is a half-day; many public offices close after noon for prayers.
- Alcohol: license requirement was removed in 2020. Sold in licensed hotels, restaurants, bars, and specialist shops. Public intoxication and drink-driving are strictly policed.
- Pork: not sold at most supermarkets. Available in the "Pork Section" of licensed stores (Spinneys, Carrefour, etc.).
- Unmarried cohabitation legalized (2020), family-law reforms — steady openness to international standards.
What foreign residents should watch
- Ramadan — the 9th Islamic month (shifts annually). No eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight regardless of religion. Life kicks in at iftar (sunset). See
ramadan. - Dress in public spaces — mosques, government offices, and some malls restrict revealing outfits. See
dress-code. - Language etiquette — a few Arabic phrases (As-salaam alaikum, shukran) noticeably soften interactions. See
arabic-phrases. - Business etiquette — specific rules for handshakes, meetings, and gifts. See
business-etiquette. - Public holidays — Islamic dates slip 1–2 days annually. See
public-holidays.
Expat communities
Nearly 90% of UAE residents are foreign-born, and most nationalities run active community associations, grocers, and restaurant scenes in the major cities. For example, the ~20,000-strong Korean community has the UAE Korean Association (uaekorean.com), Korean grocers (Hanareum, 1004 Gourmet), and restaurants concentrated in Dubai and Abu Dhabi — your community likely has an equivalent network worth finding on arrival.
How to apply
Individual guides in this category are aimed at people who'll live here for days or longer, not at tourists. The emphasis is on norms you actually bump into, not general-knowledge Islam 101.