The United Arab Emirates operates under Islamic principles merged with a deliberate cosmopolitanism that accommodates the reality that expatriates constitute approximately 88 percent of the population as of 2023. The legal framework derives from Sharia law applied variably across the seven emirates, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi maintaining more moderate enforcement than Sharjah or Ajman. Emirati nationals, who number roughly 1.1 million among the total population exceeding 9.3 million, retain social and legal primacy. The federal constitution established in 1971 designates Islam as the official religion, and cultural norms reflect this status regardless of personal belief.
Dress codes function as enforceable standards in government buildings, mosques, and designated public spaces. Women entering Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque must wear an abaya provided at entry and cover hair completely. Men require long trousers and shirts covering shoulders. Outside religious sites, Emirati women traditionally wear the abaya, a floor-length black cloak, often with the shayla headscarf. Emirati men wear the kandura, a white ankle-length robe, with the ghutra headcloth secured by an agal cord. Expatriate residents and tourists face no mandatory traditional dress requirements on streets or in malls, though shoulders and knees should remain covered in public areas, particularly in Sharjah where municipal authorities issued decency codes specifying that clothing must not be transparent or reveal undergarments. Swimwear is acceptable at hotel pools and beaches but not in public shopping or dining areas. Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach Residence attract thousands wearing Western casual attire daily without incident, but walking shirtless away from designated beach zones can result in fines starting at 500 dirhams under public decency statutes.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar lasting 29 or 30 days, imposes the most significant behavioral modifications. Federal law prohibits eating, drinking, or smoking in public spaces during daylight hours from fajr to maghrib prayer times, approximately 5:00 AM to 6:30 PM depending on season. This applies to all individuals regardless of religion within public view. Violations carry fines reaching 2,000 dirhams and potential deportation for expatriates. Restaurants close or curtain windows until iftar, the sunset meal breaking the fast. Hotels typically maintain screened dining areas for non-fasting guests, but even within these spaces, discretion is expected. Working hours shorten by two hours daily for most businesses during Ramadan under federal labor law. The prohibition extends to chewing gum in public, as this constitutes consumption. Private residences and hotel rooms remain exempt from these restrictions.
Alcohol access operates under a licensing system specific to each emirate. Dubai and Abu Dhabi permit alcohol sales in licensed venues including hotels, restaurants attached to hotels, and specific standalone locations. Dubai residents may obtain a liquor license allowing home consumption purchases from designated stores like MMI or African + Eastern after presenting an employer's no-objection letter and paying 270 dirhams annually. Sharjah prohibits alcohol sales entirely, with no licensed venues in the emirate. Ajman and Umm Al Quwain similarly maintain prohibition. Ras Al Khaimah allows hotel service only. Fujairah permits hotels to serve alcohol and operates retailers in specific zones. The legal blood alcohol limit is zero—any detectable amount constitutes an offense. Driving with any measurable alcohol can result in one-month imprisonment, fines of 20,000 to 30,000 dirhams, license suspension, and vehicle impoundment. Public intoxication is separately punishable by fines, imprisonment up to six months, and deportation.
Male-female interaction follows conservative norms distinct from Western social patterns. Public displays of affection including kissing, prolonged hugging, or intimate touching are illegal under decency laws. Holding hands between married couples is generally tolerated in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, less so in Sharjah. Unmarried couples sharing hotel rooms faced legal risk until 2020, when federal reforms decriminalized cohabitation for unmarried partners, though individual emirates retain discretion in enforcement. Business interactions between genders proceed normally in professional contexts, where women work alongside men in most sectors. However, initiating physical contact beyond a handshake with someone of the opposite gender should follow their lead—many Emirati women and men will not shake hands with the opposite sex for religious reasons, instead placing hand over heart as greeting. Gender segregation persists in certain contexts including some restaurant family sections, prayer areas in mosques, and specific beach zones designated for families versus singles.
Photography requires specific attention to permission and context. Photographing government buildings, military installations, airports, ports, and palaces is prohibited. Photographing individuals, particularly Emirati women, without explicit consent is both culturally offensive and legally actionable under privacy laws. A 2015 amendment to the UAE cybercrime law established penalties up to 500,000 dirhams and six months imprisonment for photographing or sharing images of individuals without consent if such images harm their privacy. This extends to posting such images on social media. Landmarks like Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, and Louvre Abu Dhabi permit photography for personal use, though commercial photography requires advance permission and fees. Some museums including the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilization prohibit photography of certain exhibits, with signage indicating restrictions.
Greetings follow a hierarchical and gender-conscious protocol. The phrase "As-salamu alaykum" (peace be upon you) serves as the standard greeting, with the response "Wa alaykumu s-salam" (and upon you, peace). In business contexts, meetings begin with coffee service—accepting at least one small cup is expected before declining further servings by tilting the cup side to side. Arabic coffee, served from a dallah pot into small handleless cups, accompanies dates. Taking coffee with the right hand is standard, as the left hand is considered unclean in Islamic tradition. Business cards should be presented and received with the right hand or both hands, never the left alone. When entering a majlis, the traditional meeting room, greet the most senior person first and proceed by rank. Shoes are removed before entering homes and certain carpeted areas in traditional settings.
The right hand maintains significance across all activities. Eating, passing objects, accepting items, and gesturing should occur with the right hand. In the rare situations involving traditional floor seating during meals, showing the sole of one's foot toward another person is offensive, as feet are considered the lowest and dirtiest part of the body. Sitting cross-legged or with legs folded to one side avoids this. When dining in Emirati homes, hospitality is extensive and refusal can cause offense. Accepting offers of tea, coffee, or food demonstrates respect, though expressing fullness after reasonable consumption is understood. Finishing everything on the plate may prompt hosts to serve more, while leaving a small amount can signal satisfaction.
Business culture emphasizes relationship-building before transactions. Meetings commonly begin 15 to 30 minutes after scheduled time, particularly with Emirati nationals who may juggle family obligations alongside professional commitments. Friday is the primary prayer day, with most businesses closed or operating limited hours. The work week traditionally ran Sunday through Thursday, though some companies adopted Monday through Friday to align with global markets. Meetings scheduled during prayer times—fajr before sunrise, dhuhr at midday, asr in afternoon, maghrib at sunset, and isha in evening—may pause for 15 to 30 minutes to allow prayer. Government offices and some businesses close briefly for dhuhr prayer. Ramadan significantly impacts business pace, with many decisions deferred until after Eid al-Fitr, the three-day festival marking Ramadan's end. Similarly, Eid al-Adha, the four-day festival of sacrifice occurring during Hajj season, halts most commercial activity.
Language use combines English and Arabic depending on context and participants. English functions as the business lingua franca, used in most corporate and tourist interactions. However, learning basic Arabic phrases demonstrates respect. "Shukran" (thank you), "Afwan" (you're welcome), "Marhaba" (hello), and "Ma'a salama" (goodbye) are appreciated. Government services provide Arabic and English options. Road signs display both languages. Customer service in hotels, malls, and restaurants typically operates in English. However, official documents, legal proceedings, and interactions with certain government departments may require Arabic, necessitating translation services for non-speakers.