All About Living, Culture, And Lifestyle In Dubai

The most well-known of the United Arab Emirates has many things to offer.

Dubai is a great place to live for both business-minded and culture-hungry expats. It has incredible architecture, long stretches of beautiful golden beaches, and endless skyscrapers. About 3.33 million people live in the area, and people from all over the world live there and come to visit.

Since 85% of the population are expats, migrant and expat workers should feel at home once they learn about the local culture and way of life. Here are five tips to help new expats feel at home and settle in.

All About Living, Culture, And Lifestyle In Dubai

Let’s begin.

Get familiar with the language.

There are a lot of languages in the city. The official language is Arabic, but most people speak English. Some people also speak Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, Tagalog, Persian, Chinese, and Malayalam.

People who live and work in the Middle East have a significant advantage if they can speak, read, and write Arabic. Some jobs require you to be fluent in both English and Arabic. If you can talk in both languages, you’ll meet a lot more people and be able to make business connections and friends much faster.

Social Manners

Even though Dubai is a very metropolitan and diverse city, most of its cultural practices are very traditional. Expats and migrant workers must respect the region’s culture and rules, the people who live there, and those who visit.

All public spaces, including workplaces, public shopping centres, parks, beaches, and swimming pools, require modest and courteous attire (there is an exception for private beaches and pools). Mosques require people to wear clothes that cover their bodies from head to toe, and women must cover their hair with a headscarf, which is usually given to them when they enter the mosque.

Most public places have different areas for men and women. Gyms, swimming pools, and public transportation often have separate areas for men and women. People don’t like it when people show affection in public, and it’s often against the law. Learn more about the laws of the UAE.

The Emir’s culture and customs can take some time to adjust to, just like it can take time to get used to new and strange habits in other parts of the world. You’ll learn the “do’s and don’ts” of daily living in the UAE more quickly the longer you stay there.

Respect the Culture and Religion

All Muslims worldwide observe Ramadan as a holy month, which may be one of the most important religious events in the Muslim worldview. For one month, Muslims don’t eat or drink every year from sunrise to sunset. Even if you’re not a Muslim, you can’t eat, drink, or smoke in public during fasting hours.

Most places that sell food and drinks close during the day. However, larger hotels and worker housing often have places to get food during the day. If you eat something before sunrise, you call it Suhoor; if you eat something after sunset, you call it Iftar. Iftar and Suhoor are both significant events that take place in hotels and people’s homes. During Ramadan, business hours are shorter so employees can fast, and stores stay open much later.

Try some authentic Emirati food.

The variety of delectable regional foods may be sampled as part of the fascinating, entertaining, and educational process of getting to know the culture.

Majboos is a must-try meat dish with chicken, mixed rice, and various spices. Instead of chicken, lamb or fish can be used, but the mix of traditional spices and biryani is always there. The result is a local dish usually served with chickpeas and makes your mouth water. Luqaimat is a popular sweet dessert made with dough like a dumpling. It used to be served as a dessert after breaking the Ramadan fast, but now you can find it on many menus in the UAE.

Camel milk is a popular drink in the area. The United Arab Emirates has a rich history and legacy, and camel milk is available in most neighbourhood eateries and grocery stores.

Because there are so many expats in the city, there are many international food options that expats and visitors can choose from.

A sense of belonging

Settling into a new culture and environment can be challenging and take time. However, the more effort you put into understanding and accepting cultural differences, the faster you will be able to adjust to your new life. Do as much research as possible on the laws, taxes, pensions, work practices, health insurance, culture, and transportation before you move abroad.

While studying is significant, getting a taste of the local way of life before you relocate is even more eye-opening. If you can go to the Emirates before moving there, you’ll be much more prepared for your new job and way of life.