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

Emirati Adventures, a Practice in Patience and Cultural Competence

Note: I wanted to write this after a few visitors to the country said they didn't know what to wear or how it "would be" here in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)...

Here's a little "what not to wear" and the famous "hijab" info.
Women: cover knees to shoulders
Men: cover knees to shoulders

Below is a picture of locals in their cultural dress, but shops sell the usual Gap, H&M, Stratovarias, Mango, zara and all the awesome styles....

For further info read my expanded information about cultural clothing below...












Common cultural misunderstandings regarding the Muslim world, or cultural practices is Arab countries: