Expat and Emirati friends launch essential guidebook to UAE culture

An Emirati author and an Italian journalist living in Dubai have published an invaluable expat-aimed guide to Emirati culture and tradition.

Adjusting to the drastically different cultural norms of the Gulf States is one of the trickiest tasks facing newly-arrived expat professionals, but everything necessary for a smooth transition is in this newly-published guide book. UAE 101 is the brainchild of Italian expat journalist Maria Caelli and Emirati author Roudha al Marri and is the first of its kind dedicated to helping expats understand the heritage, culture and way of life of in the Gulf States.

Set to become a must-read for expat newbies, the book is an easy to read collection of 1010 stories selected to answer the questions most frequently asked by newly-arrived foreigners. Chapters include greetings and making friends with Emiratis, details of the region’s artworks, food and leisure activities and stories about growing up within the unique Arab culture.First and foremost, it’s a detailed account of what makes the UAE different from most other expat destinations and how to get though the initial period of adjustment without dropping too many clangers.

The original idea for the book came when the two friends were chatting at another friend’s house and Maria began asking many questions about the local way of life and its traditions. Roudha was amazed a foreigner would want to know so many small cultural details of life as an Emirati, and so the book was born. According to Roudha, traditions are something every child grows up with, without questioning their origins or importance. She used all possible sources as her inspiration, including her mother and grandmother as well as her friends.

One fascinating topic is the chapter on the traditional perfumes used by men as well as by women in the UAE, and another chapter focuses on the hand gestures frequently used in conversation between locals. Of essential use is a sector on how to behave when invited to an Emirati home. Popular and more formal words of greeting are covered, and both the co-authors are hoping their book will make it easier for expatriates to create a bridge between the two vastly different cultures.