Architecture
The UAE is inspired by Islamic architecture, which means
that the building materials are fairly simple. Ancient houses were made of stone,
roofed by palm leaves, and occasionally used fossilized corals or limestone.
Music
The music of the United Arab Emirates is part of the khaleeji tradition (also spelled khaliji). This means that it is characterized by use of the oud, a pear shaped ukulele like instrument. There are two types of ouds: Arabic and Turkish. This is not based on geography, but the Arabic oud is larger and produces a fuller, deeper sound, whereas the Turkish oud is brighter and clearer, probably because it is tuned a full step higher. Turkish ouds are more lightly constructed with lower string action and closer-placed string-courses. Khaliji music also has heavy use of the tabl drum. They have deep bass sounds and thin treble sounds generally stuck with a heavy mallet on the top and a lighter mallet on the cymbal part. The UAE is also associated with Bedouin folk music. Two music festivals are/were held in Dubai: the Dubai International Jazz Festival, which has been held since 2003, and the Dubai Desert Rock Festival, which was held from 2003-2009 but has not been held since.
Food
As expected, the food of the United Arab Emirates is highly Arab influenced. Arabic food has a strong emphasis with meats such as lamb and chicken, with less usage of beef, goat, and camel. Yogurt and butter are used; so are white cheese and cream. Mint, thyme, garlic, cumin, sumac, and cinnamon are also used. Rice is a staple in Arabic cuisine, and wheat is the main source of bread. Lentils, fava beans, and chickpeas are used and they favor vegetables such as cucumbers, eggplants, zucchini, onions, and citrus fruits. Lunch is considered the main meal of the day, and is traditionally eaten after prayer. It is the meal where the family comes together and when entertaining guests the meal they generally come for. Croissants are served for breakfast, which is often a quick meal. Dinner is the lightest meal, though now that has changed somewhat due to changing lifestyles. (The meal shown below is Matboha, an Arab dish)
Sports
Soccer (football) is the most popular sport in the UAE. There are six soccer teams that are the most popular and have had many championships. There are also many rivalries between teams, and the people traditionally fill the streets when their favorite team wins. The UAE national “football” team qualified for the FIFA World Cup in 1990. Other popular sports include cricket, due to the influx of people from India; tennis; camel-racing; falconry and endurance riding.
Holidays
There are six major holidays celebrated in the UAE: On December 2, National Day is celebrated. This is the day that the UAE officially gained its independence (Dec. 2, 1971). On January 1, New Year’s Day is celebrated. Other holidays include the Day of Sacrifice, Islamic New Year, The Night Journey, and the End of Ramadan. The Night Journey is a two part journey that Muhammad supposedly took during a single night around the year 621. During the journey, Muhammad traveled on horseback to Buraq, the “farthest mosque” then ascended to heaven to speak to God, who gave him instructions on how to correctly pray. The date of the journey is unclear, so they celebrate it on different dates every year. It is traditionally celebrated with prayers and by illuminating cities with electric lights and candles. The place where Muhammad ascended to heaven is the third-holiest place on Earth for Muslims. Islamic New Year is 11-12 calendar days shorter than the regular Gregorian solar year, it is celebrated on different days. In 2015, it will be in October.