The Basics - a quick read

Location

In the fashion of 'rising from the ashes', Dubai is an extraordinary oasis that has been built upon sand and stone on a desert climate. It is on the southeast coast of the Persian Gulf and a part of the seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates.

UAE:

1. Abu Dhabi
2. Ajman
3. Dubai (GMT + 4hr)
4. Fujairah
5. Ras al-Khaimah
6. Sharjah
7. Umm al-Quwain

Dubai is ideally located in terms of travel. As you can see from the map above, for business or for pleasure, to live and branch out or to be a transit for tourists, it is centrally located for most continents to be within a hand's reach.

Due to the location, the summer is quite frankly unbearable from time to time with temperature soaring into the late 40c to the 50c where as the winter brings in lovely weather averaging from 24c to 30c. In the summer, winds from the north-west i.e Saudi Arabia causes sandstorms, which as you can imagine something that you dont want to be outside in the middle of.


Sheikh Mo

Unlike most nations in the world, I find that the royals here in Dubai are ever so connected to the people. They have a hands on approach to meet and greet and solve issues. The current ruler of Dubai is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in other words the beloved 'Sheikh Mo'. He is a Cambridge educated philanthropist with a passion for poetry and horse-breeding. Once in Dubai, no doubt you will spot the Sheikh in his immaculate white dishdashas cruising on the roads on exotic cars with the '1' number plate, or just enjoying lunch in the outdoors.

Language

Dubai's official language is Arabic but spoken only by a third of the population as there is an ever increasing influx of expats from all over the globe coming into Dubai. I have to say that English would be the dominant language and can be some what sufficient from day to day.

Phrases and words
Hello : a'sallam alaykum (reply - wa alaykum salaam)
Yes : na'am                                                           Sorry : assef
No : la                                                                   OK : n'zayn
Good Monring : sabah al kheer                            How much? : bikaim?
Good Evening : massa al kheer                            Do you speak english? : teh ki ingelezi?
Good night (male) : tisbah al kher                        I don't speak arabic : ma ah'ki arabi
Good night (female) : tisbashi al kher                  I understand : ana fahim
Goodbye : ma'assalama                                        I don't understand : an ma fahim
Please (male) : minfadlack                                   My name is... : Ismi....
Please (female) : minfadlick                                What is your name? : sho ismak?
Excuse me : afwan                                                God Willing : Inshallah
Thank you : shukran                                             I'm British : ana Britani
Numbers
1 : wahid                                                               9 : tissa
2 : ithnayn                                                            10 : ashra
3 : theletha                                                           20 : aishreen
4 : arba'a                                                              30 : thelatheen
5 : khamsa                                                           40 : arba'aeen
6 : sitta                                                                 50 : khamseen
7 : saba'a                                                              100 : maya
8 : themanya                                                        1000 : elf



Customs & Culture

Although Dubai has had this incredible rapid growth to become a contemporary business hub and an ideal holiday destination, they maintain as much as they can of their culture. Unless you work and do business in Dubai, it would be rare for a holiday goer to truly interact with the emirati locals. Here are a few etiquettes worth for thought.

• Use the right hand to eat
• Do not offer to shake hands with an emirati woman unless she offers
• No involvement with alcholic drinks out side a licenced establishment
• No tolerance for drink driving
• No PDA - no overt kissing or body contact.
• No provocative clothing.
• Rudeness is not tolerated
• No offensive gestures and swearing
• No pointing fingers
• Do not show your sole of your shoe
• Accept hospitalities.

Relegion

Islam is the religion in Dubai. I have personally found that through their strict faith and an image of a confined hardened individual, the local muslims are ever so humble and practise giving rather than taking. Although an islamic land they are very tolerant to expats and tourists, as long as there is no deliberate offensive doings. But saying they are tolerant, do NOT take advantage.

Dress

The locals here really do care about their clean cut image so with no surprise the traditional dress that the local emiratis wear are somewhat graceful. The emirati men wear dishdasha and a headdress,a ghutra (usually white or red) with a thick black rope called the iqal and finishing off with leather sandals, a na-al. The women wear a dress covering the whole body called an abaya, under which they would have normal clothes (which to an average joe like me is expensive designer makes).