Dubai culture

Muslim religious laws should be observed in Dubai, with women expected to dress modestly and men formally for most occasions. Alcohol is permitted, with non-Muslims allowed to drink alcohol in the bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels. The approach to smoking is the same as in Europe and in most cases it's obvious where not to do so, except during Ramadan when it is illegal to eat, drink or smoke in public.

Mostly Muslim, of which 16% are Shiite and the remainder are Sunni Muslim.

There are records of the town of Dubai from 1799. In 1833, the Al Maktoum dynasty of the Bani Yas tribe left Abu Dhabi and took over the town of Dubai "without resistance". From then on Dubai, a newly independent emirate, was constantly at odds with the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and an attempt by the Qawasim to take over Dubai was thwarted.

In 1835, Dubai and the rest of the Trucial States signed a maritime truce with Britain and a "Perpetual Maritime Truce" about two decades later. Dubai came under the protection of the United Kingdom (keeping out the Ottoman Turks) by the Exclusive Agreement of 1892.

Unlike their neighbours, the rulers of Dubai fostered trade and commerce. The town of Dubai was an important port of call for foreign tradesmen (chiefly Indians), who settled in the town. Until the 1930s, it was known for its pearl exports.

After the devaluation of the Gulf Rupee in 1966, Dubai joined the newly independent state of Qatar to set up a new monetary unit, the Qatar/Dubai riyal. Oil was discovered 120 kilometres off the coast, after which the town granted oil concessions.

In 1971 Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi and five other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates after former protector Britain left the Persian Gulf. Two years later, Dubai joined the other emirates to adopt a single, uniform currency: the UAE dirham.

Dubai is unusual in that its population mainly comprises expatriates, with UAE nationals (Emiratis) the minority. Most of these expatriates come from South Asia and South East Asia, and a quarter of the population can reportedly trace their origins to neighbouring Iran. Dubai is also home to some 100,000 British and other western expatriates, so although Arabic is the official language, English is widely spoken. The UAE government does not allow any form of naturalization or permanent residence to expatriates, although foreigners are permitted to purchase and own property without a local partner or sponsor.