7 • Rites of passage
The first word spoken to a baby is Allah (God). After birth, the next important event in a boy's life is circumcision. It is performed at the age of seven and formally makes him a member of the religious community.
Traditional arranged marriages still take place today. The groom pays the bride a dowry, or mahr. This becomes her property, no matter what happens. The mahr has two parts. The muqaddam is a dowry given before the wedding; this allows the bride to buy things for herself and her new home. The second part, the muta'akhir, is a form of insurance for the woman in the event of divorce. The groom pledges in a contract that he will pay the bride an agreed-upon amount if he should divorce her.
8 • Relationships
Emirians talk a great deal. They speak loudly, repeat themselves often, and interrupt each other constantly. Conversations are highly emotional and full of gestures. When talking, Emirians make physical contact much more often than Westerners do. They also stand much closer together. People of the same sex often hold hands while talking or walking. In former days, members of the opposite sex (even married couples) never touched in public.
9 • Living conditions
Before the discovery and production of oil, conditions in the UAE were very primitive. Emirians had no electricity, running water, or sewage disposal system. There were no paved roads or telephones. Housing consisted of the bare minimum needs for shelter. Since oil production began in 1962, conditions have rapidly improved. Today almost all Emirians live in thoroughly modern homes in modern cities. Medical care is still not up to Western standards, but it is improving.
10 • Family life
Marriages are traditionally arranged by parents. First cousins are the preferred match. Polygamy (more than one spouse) is legal but rarely practiced. In theory (and according to Islamic law), a man may have up to four wives. Divorce is fairly simple but also rare. In a divorce, the father is given custody of all children over the age of five. The mother takes the younger ones with her to her parents' house, where she will live until she remarries.
Women are much less restricted in the UAE than in other Arab countries. At least 98 percent of the female population of school age is attending primary or intermediate school. Women account for 70 percent of the students at the Higher Colleges of Technology and over 60 percent at the UAE University. Emirian women have also joined the armed forces and the police force.
11 • Clothing
Emirians wear traditional Arab clothing. For men, this consists of an ankle-length robe called a dishdasha or kandura . A large piece of cloth, called a ghutra, is worn on the head. It is held in place with an àqal, a thick, black band made of twisted wool. With the new flow of wealth, some women import the latest fashions from the West. A traditional UAE woman's attire, however, is the àbaya. This black garment covers her from head to toe when she is in a public place.
12 • Food
Rice, meat, and fish are the Emirians' staple foods. Among the most commonly used spices are coriander, cardamom, saffron, and turmeric. Islam prohibits the consumption of pork or alcohol.
A favorite dish in the UAE is machbous, rice and meat seasoned with spices, onions, tomatoes, and dried lemon. During Ramadan, the month of daytime fasting, harees is usually served at night. For this dish, small pieces of shredded meat are mixed with wheat and water that have been beaten to the consistency of porridge. Favorite desserts include al-halwa, made from sugar, eggs, starch, water, and oil; and Kul Wiskut, a mixture of peanuts and sugar.
Coffee and tea are the most popular beverages and are often mixed with spices (cardamom for coffee, and saffron or mint for tea).