Blacktower FM - Issue 18 - 2026 Magazine - Flipbook - Page 78
LE
E IDTIITOI N
ON
D
UGB A
A CI YE D
C U LT U R A L I N T E G R AT I O N
Understanding Emirati
Culture:
A Guide for Newcomers
By Andy Newland, Head of Marke琀椀ng at Blacktower Financial Management
Moving to Dubai presents a unique opportunity to experience the richness of Emira琀椀 culture, which is deeply rooted
in heritage, hospitality, and tradi琀椀on. While Dubai is famously mul琀椀cultural, the local customs and values remain an
essen琀椀al part of life in the UAE, and understanding these can greatly enhance your experience as a newcomer. Here’s
an introductory guide to help you become familiar with the customs, tradi琀椀ons, and e琀椀que琀琀e that shape Emira琀椀 society.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF DUBAI
Dubai’s origins can be traced back
to a modest 昀椀shing village along the
Arabian Gulf, known historically for
its pearl-diving industry and trading
port. With the discovery of oil in the
1960s, Dubai rapidly transformed
into a bustling metropolis, and the
leadership’s vision for economic
diversi昀椀ca琀椀on paved the way for
today’s vibrant, cosmopolitan city.
Dubai’s heritage remains a proud part
of its iden琀椀ty, blending tradi琀椀on with
modernity to create a unique cultural
landscape.
Key Values: Hospitality and Respect
Hospitality and respect are at the
heart of Emira琀椀 culture. Emira琀椀s are
known for their welcoming nature and
deep-rooted tradi琀椀on of hospitality,
extending warm gestures to guests
and strangers alike. As a visitor or
newcomer, you may experience this
hospitality 昀椀rsthand, whether it’s
through gree琀椀ngs, the sharing of food,
or invita琀椀ons to join celebra琀椀ons.
Respect, par琀椀cularly for family
values, elders, and cultural customs,
is also central to Emira琀椀 society.
Demonstra琀椀ng respect is seen in
simple gestures like gree琀椀ng elders
昀椀rst, addressing people by their
琀椀tles, and dressing modestly in public
spaces.
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TRADITIONAL DRESS: SYMBOL OF
IDENTITY AND RESPECT
Emira琀椀 tradi琀椀onal a琀�re is not only a
cultural symbol but also represents
the values of modesty and respect.
For men, the kandura (or dishdasha),
a long white robe, is worn with a head
covering called the ghutra or ke昀케yeh,
o昀琀en held in place with a black band
known as the agal. Women typically
wear the abaya, a 昀氀owing black cloak,
over their clothes, accompanied
by a headscarf called the shayla.
This tradi琀椀onal a琀�re is a source of
pride and iden琀椀ty for Emira琀椀s and is
commonly worn in daily life.
For newcomers, it’s respec琀昀ul to
dress modestly in public spaces
and workplaces, especially when
interac琀椀ng with Emira琀椀 colleagues or
friends. While the dress code is more
relaxed in some interna琀椀onal areas,
modest a琀�re demonstrates cultural
sensi琀椀vity and respect.
HOLIDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS:
HONOURING TRADITION AND
COMMUNITY
Emira琀椀s observe both Islamic and
na琀椀onal holidays, each of which
re昀氀ects the values of faith, family, and
unity. Ramadan is one of the most
signi昀椀cant observances, a holy month
of fas琀椀ng and re昀氀ec琀椀on in the Islamic
calendar. During Ramadan, locals
and residents observe fas琀椀ng from
dawn to sunset, followed by I昀琀ar (the
breaking of the fast), o昀琀en enjoyed
in communal se琀�ngs with family and
friends. As a newcomer, it’s important
to be mindful of local customs during
this 琀椀me, such as refraining from
ea琀椀ng or drinking in public during
daylight hours.
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan
and is a 琀椀me of joyous celebra琀椀on,
with special prayers, feas琀椀ng, and
exchanging of gi昀琀s among families
and friends. Another important
holiday is Na琀椀onal Day on December
2nd, celebra琀椀ng the founding of the
UAE in 1971. Na琀椀onal Day fes琀椀vi琀椀es
are 昀椀lled with 昀椀reworks, concerts, and
cultural performances, showcasing
Emira琀椀 heritage and pride.
SOCIAL ETIQUETTE: GREETINGS
AND GESTURES
In Emira琀椀 culture, gree琀椀ngs are
formal and o昀琀en involve handshakes
or, in more tradi琀椀onal se琀�ngs, a
gentle touching of noses, known as
the khushmak, as a mark of respect
between close male friends or family
members. While handshakes are
common in professional se琀�ngs, it’s
best to wait for an Emira琀椀 person
