Why I really love the Emirates... The Happy Birthday Edition

Happy 40th Anniversary UAE!

As the Emirates is gearing up for National Day *Happy Birthday UAE you just turned 40!* the quaint desert town where I live (Al Ain, Abu Dhabi) been transformed into a land of lights, decor and local cars covered in murals of the country's benevolent leaders.

Seriously, I'm not sure how safe it is, but people here paint over windows because they are very patriotic for the 40th National Day.

Emiratis love cars and their founding fathers

So in honor of it's birthday, here are my top 10 favorite reasons I love UAE:

1-  Hospitality to the highest degree: Emiratis have impeccable manners to welcome guests, often involving coffee, tea and sweets.They value charity, helping strangers, or assisting those in need.

2- Multiculturalism abounds here: There are various faiths, everyone can have their own church, chapel, gudwara and temple; there is strictly no proselytizing. People from over 150 nationalities live here.

3- Great winter weather... It's currently 80 degrees F/ 27 C in the winter and sunny.

4- Amazing architecture, from universities, to Dubai's famous Burj AlArab and Burj Khaleefa (tallest building in the world)

5- Education is free for Emiratis.. and that is awesome

6- Healthcare is affordable, and easy for all residents (required now too). They have started expanding care for people with special needs as well.

7- Extremely patriotic nationals, but then again as they make up less than 20% of the population, they should be proud... People here are extremely proud of their nationality, their country, their rulers... and since it's the 40th anniversary it really shows. Can you be too patriotic? Perhaps, just ask the guy who painted these fish with the Emirati flag; he's selling them at the university.

8. Moderate religious views. They are predominantly with the Maliki school of thought. There is a lot of allowances made for non-Muslims in this country (they don't go by Muslim law for things like marriage). The country champions women's rights, and has shelters and outreach for victims of sex trafficking and domestic violence. Birth control is readily available.

9. Really nice public bathrooms. I know that's odd but no one will make you buy a soda to use the restroom and the gas station bathrooms are spotless with attendants to check everything. If you're Muslim or French you'll also appreciate the bathroom hose. Let's face it, everyone uses bathrooms. I have been around the world and camping in Idaho (sans bathrooms)... so I appreciate the little things.

10. Styles and fashions are interesting: There are fancy abayas, plain abayas, high fashion under-abayas, popular fashionable hand bags, shoes and clothes everywhere at my university and in Dubai. Men and women have blinged-up and name-branded their national dress (black abaya for women and the dishdasha for men.. see my next post). It's a fascinating blend of culture, marketing, commercialized products, and all around interesting combinations (e.g. the Arab men's clothing with a baseball cap). There are also varieties of Muslim dress found from all across the world and region. Westerners can wear generally as they choose.

UAE.. Thanks, and Happy Birthday!