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Social Norms in
UAE
The UAE is international in flavor - only one in five are locals -
with many Asians from e.g. India, Pakistan, Philippines, Nepal. People
are typically
respectful
of Muslin norms i.e. wear long-sleeves, respect day-time
food and drink constraints during Ramadan, no alcohol in public
spaces. Women are free to drive, work, take a full
role in workplace and government. Local girls and boys get educated
through High School in Arabic, but expatriate kids attend international
schools that teach in their own language.
Climate of the
UAE
The climate of the UAE generally is hot and dry. The hottest months
are July and August, when average maximum temperatures reach above
118°F on the coastal plain. Average minimum temperatures in January
and February are between 50°F and 57°F. During the late summer
months, a humid southeastern wind known as the
sharqi makes the coastal region especially unpleasant. The
average annual rainfall in the coastal area is fewer than 5 in.
Geography of UAE
It shares a
530-kilometer border with Saudi Arabia on the west, south, and
southeast, and a 450-kilometer border with Oman on the southeast and
northeast. The total area is approximately 77,700 sq. km. Most
of the coast consists of
salt pans that extend far inland. The largest natural harbor is
at
Dubai,
although other ports have been dredged at
Abu Dhabi,
Sharjah, and elsewhere. Numerous natural islands are found in the gulf.
The
Al Hajar al Gharbi (Western Al Hajar) mountains, rising in
places to 2,500 meters, separate the Al Batinah coast from the rest
of the UAE. South and west of Abu Dhabi, vast, rolling sand
dunes
merge into the
Rub al Khali (Empty Quarter) of
Saudi Arabia. The desert area of Abu Dhabi includes two
important
oases with adequate underground water for permanent settlements
and cultivation.
History of the
UAE
The seven separate emirates gained a common naval defense via a
truce through the British navy putting down piracy along their
coast. In 1971 these
trucial states gained independence, as a
federation headed by the sheiks of
Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras
al-Khaimah,
Sharjah, and Umm
al-Quwain. The largest -
Abu Dhabi
- has
significant oil and gas reserves, and
Dubai has positioned itself as
a regional transportation hub, finance center and tourist
destination.
Sharjah is mainly residential, bordering Dubai to the
east, and is known for its Arabic cultural centers and academic excellence
amongst the Gulf nations |
