All the Small Things

As you probably can guess, life in a foreign country can often be very different from life at home. Major cultural adjustments are often necessary, but sometimes even the little things can make a big difference. Here are some of the subtle peculiarities I've noticed about living in the UAE thusfar:

Money:

People here do not like making change. If your grocery bill comes out to 128.75 AED and you hand the cashier 130 AED, he/she will likely hand you a 1-dirham coin and just forget about the remaining 25 fils (1 dirham can be further subdivided into 100 fils). Or if you order a coffee that costs 13 dirhams and you pay with a 100, 50, or even a 20 dirham note, you'll most likely be asked if you can pay in exact change using a 10 AED note and 3 1-dirham coins. If you lack coins or smaller bills, be prepared for a disapproving stare.

Also on the subject of money, tipping is not expected in the UAE. Cab rides, dining out, gas pumping services, and valet parking are all associated with gratuities here in the US, but in the UAE, you only tip if you received extraordinary service. On the one hand, it's nice to save a little cash, but on the flip side, there really isn't much you can do to reward or penalize varying levels of service.

Gender Interaction:

When men greet men (or when women greet women), they often exchange a hug and kisses on the cheek. It is also not uncommon for like-genders to hold hands as they walk. Interactions between men and women, however, are much less open. Some women will not shake hands with men due to their religious convictions, PDA is discouraged in all emirates (and even outright banned in the emirate of Sharjah), and a man and a woman are not to be found alone with one another in "questionable circumstances".

Despite these seemingly draconian social norms, Arabs are very expressive, outgoing people. Guys and girls frequently flirt with and tease one another in conversation, and it is not uncommon to find a group of guys or a group of girls gossiping about the latest news in their social scene. The takeaway here is that just because things are sometimes done under the radar does not mean they are not done at all. Outward modesty tends to prevail, but beneath the kandooras and abayas (traditional dress for men and women) you'll find the same vibrant personalities you'd find anywhere. 

~MH