United Arab Emirates Culture and Etiquette

The short version

The UAE is a Muslim country, and the standard to travel by is straightforward: respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions. Most of what is expected is ordinary courtesy. Several things, dress among them, are law rather than custom, which is why they appear on the safety page as well as here.

Greetings

As-salamu alaykum is always right; the reply is wa alaykumu s-salam. Handshakes are normal between men. Wait to see whether a woman offers her hand rather than extending yours; a hand to the heart is warm and entirely correct. Use your right hand for giving, receiving and eating.

Dress, and how it varies

Shoulders and knees covered in public, for men and women. Swimwear on beaches and at pools only. This is a legal expectation rather than a preference. It is applied more strictly in Sharjah and the northern emirates than in central Dubai, and a visitor who calibrates to a Dubai hotel and then travels north has misjudged it.

Mosques

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi welcomes visitors outside prayer times. Cover shoulders, knees and, for women, hair; remove shoes at the door. Abayas are lent at the entrance. Photograph the building freely and people only with their consent.

Hospitality and the majlis

Coffee and dates come first. Accepting is the polite move. If you are invited to a home, bring something small, sweets or dates rather than alcohol, and take your shoes off at the door. The majlis, the reception room where guests are received, is a real institution and being invited into one is a compliment.

Ramadan

Do not eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight, including in a car. This applies to visitors. Hours shift and the evenings become the social centre of the day.

Verify Before You Travel

The laws behind these customs, including the alcohol position in Sharjah, are on the FCDO safety and security page. Next: travel safety.

Sources

• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: UAE safety and security: the Sharjah alcohol ban, the zero-tolerance drugs position, dress codes and the law on same-sex relations. Accessed 15 September 2026.
• UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: United Arab Emirates travel advice: the FCDO issues no advisory against travel to any part of the UAE. Accessed 15 September 2026.