The UAE is a young state, yet one of the richest in the world - the ocean floor supplies the treasury with financial injections from "black gold" mining. Oil production and export began in 1962 in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and in 1971 seven Arab emirates united into a confederation - the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi fairly received the status of the capital of the UAE. And the list of independent emirates, members of the association, is impressive with names, as if descended from the pages of the eastern fairy tale: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras al-Khaimah, Umm al-Quayn, Fujairah. The State is governed by the Supreme Council and the emirates are governed by sheikhs: 7 emirates, 7 sheikhs. The official language is Arabic, and English is widely spoken.

The UAE is a Muslim country where the customs and traditions that have developed over the centuries and remain inviolable to this day are sacred. Everyone who is a guest of this country needs to know many nuances in order to feel comfortable and respond adequately.

A handshake in the UAE is a special ritual, a manifestation of sincere warmth and friendliness to the companion, so it lasts a little longer than we are used to it. Say goodbye and exchange handshakes, if a person is particularly dear to you, with two hands. At this point, do not look into the other person’s eye and do not wave your other hand or keep it in your pocket.

If you are invited to visit and offered tea or coffee, you should never refuse, it will be taken as disrespect to this house. However, you should only take or offer food, drinks or any other items with your right hand.

Shoes must be taken off before entering the mosque and the house. On the beach is allowed to be in a swimsuit, but to sunbathe and swim "topless" and even more naked in any case you cannot.

The country attaches great importance to the family, the older generation in special honor, and children are a sign of prosperity. However, when talking to an Arab, one should never ask about his wife, one can only ask about the family in general.

UAE customs and traditions sometimes seem strange and incomprehensible, but maximum respect for them and the people of this wonderful country should be shown.

Wonderful climate and luxurious nature of sunny Emirates as if specially created for a relaxing beach holiday. All hotels located along the coastline and have private beaches. City hotels sign contracts with beach hotels, so guests can be taken by bus to the beach. If you prefer to stay in a smaller city hotel, you can use either the free city beach or a paid bus from the hotels to the beaches, usually free shuttle service. Taxi ride (half an hour from the farthest part of the city to the coast) will cost you around 5-8$.

Since the country is a duty-free zone, it is very tempting to combine beach vacation with the charms of shopping. The recognized leader in terms of shopping and trade is, of course, Dubai. It is a major shopping malls, car dealerships, gold market.

Every year from mid-January to mid-February there is a trade festival - street performances, fireworks, film festivals, international fashion shows. Most retail outlets accept dollars. Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ajman are also famous shopping centers. When visiting large shopping centers you should be prepared that prices will be higher than on the shopping streets, and "trading here is inappropriate". But the quality of the goods will certainly be much higher.

Holidays in the UAE involve not only lying on the sand, swimming in the waters of the bay and active shopping. Tours in the country are diverse and usually offer an exciting excursion programs. United Arab Emirates is a unique eastern country with a unique national flavor and its cultural peculiarities.

City tours can be provided in a numerous ways, starting from visiting the ancient monuments of architecture (exotic mosques and luxury palaces of sheikhs), visiting the museums and art galleries to unlimited opportunities for active rest. Jeep safaris in the desert, sea walks on yachts and catamarans, horse and camel riding, archery, golf, football, tennis. And of course the UAE coast is a true paradise for divers, fishermen, deep sea hunters and underwater excursions to shipwrecks.

You can relax in water parks, amusement parks, zoos or wildlife parks. The pride of the country is its parks and gardens. In many parks entrance is free, in others the fee is very low. Almost all the parks have a beach area. They are open from 8 am and do not close until late at night.

Dubai Fashion Week

In the European view, a woman from an Arab country should at least wear a long skirt and handkerchief, and at most be wrapped from head to toe in a black burqa. Of course, such canons are quite common in the Middle East. 

The Abu Dhabi Festival of Culture and Art

Abu Dhabi International Festival of Culture and Art is an annual event that consistently attracts thousands of tourists and true connoisseurs of modern art. In 2014, the festival will be held for the eleventh time.

Only 40 years ago, there was nothing in the UAE, so it was a solid desert.

This is one of the richest countries in the world. There are 59,000 dollar millionaires per 5 million people.

The UAE has very good social support. The state gives the family $50,000 for the birth of a son. They give $19,000 for a wedding and a villa, and the civil servant salary is $10,000, but only for local people.

There are many prohibitions in this Muslim country. You can't drink and transport alcohol, take pictures of state buildings and even some sights, and women; you can't throw garbage in the streets and hitchhike.

Freedom of speech is also restricted, but not the yellow press.  The media cannot tell about the personal lives of sheikhs, and in general about the lives of rich people, it is forbidden to enter the social network, as they, according to the Telecommunications Supervision Committee, contain harmful information.

There are death penalties here – from cutting off the head to being thrown by stones. They will sentence at least 10 years for the usage of any drugs in the UAE, but a drug addict who is ready to be treated will be paid for the clinic. Maybe because of such cruelty there are almost no crimes, even pick pocketing and carjacking – cars are left open.

There's an $800 fine for traffic violations.

There are air conditioners at bus stops in the UAE.

There is no winter in the European sense. The temperature in January and December is +28 during the day, +18 at night, and in summer it's about +50 degrees. The climate is very hot and humid.

Instead of races there is camel racing and robots are controlling the camels. Jeep safaris in the desert are also popular.

Gold is bought here by everyone and all kinds of people. Each resident buys at least 38 grams a year. And as a gift during a marriage proposal, a man must give his bride 5 kilograms of gold. By the way, the choice of the future partner is made by parents. But for extramarital affairs you can get a fine or even 3 months in prison. Polygamy is allowed, but since it's expensive, it gradually regains consciousness.

In the UAE, there are problems with water and electricity. Water here has to be desalinated, and utilities are very expensive.

People on the streets are dressed in a very contrasting way. Next to the women in Muslim veil, there are openly dressed ladies. Usually those are tourists. They are tolerant, but they can be fined for being too outright. Especially if a woman dressed like that walks alone, without a companion.

In transport, women and men ride separately. They have different subway wagons, bus sections and even taxis.

The UAE subway doesn't have a driver, it's driven automatically. You can pay for all transport with one card. For this purpose there are special sensors in the transport that read information and make calculations by kilometre.

Shopping here can be done in shops or at a bazaar. In the market it is necessary to bargain, it will help to lower the price considerably.

During Ramadan - the big Muslim holiday - you can't drink and eat on the streets. In some public places, where it is allowed, windows are glued. There is a fine for breaking the rules. During this fast, life starts at night, because then the bans are lifted.

In the hot Arab Emirates there is a ski resort SkiDubai in the Arabian Desert. Here you can find everything for skiers - slides, snow parks. And in 2011, the UAE became the first Arab country to join the International Ice Hockey Federation.

The most luxurious hotel in the UAE Emirates Palace has installed an $ 11.4 million Christmas tree 13 meters high for the new year. And instead of toys, it was decorated with real jewels. Hotels in the UAE know how to surprise. Thus, the cake made by cooks from 28 large hotels for the Independence Day of the country was included in the Guinness Book of Records because of its size - the length of 2530.8 meters.

The UAE has the highest skyscraper in the world - Burj Khalifa (828 meters).