Dress
Billboard
As a Muslim country, there are a number of religious laws which should be obeyed by everyone in the United Arab Emirates, although few foreigners seem to actually follow them. Nearly 75% of the country is foreign, many of whom come from nearby countries, Europe, North America, India, and the Far East, to whom local religious dress and dietary restrictions mean little to nothing.
For the locals, the dress is a long and loose-fitting cloth that covers the entire body from the neck down, including going down to the wrists and ankles. For men this is always white and is called a dishdash, while women almost always wear black and their dress is called an abaya. Both men and women cover their hair; women wear a black cloth called a hijab, which is wrapped around their neck so only their faces can be seen, while men wear a white cloth called a keffiyeh, which is generally more loose-fitting and the bottom is often tossed over the top to be a bit cooler.
While the locals dress one way, most foreigners dress in whatever way they want. The local dress, or national uniform, is worn with pride by the locals and trying to imitate this dress can actually be more offensive in the U.A.E. than it is "correct." Although following the local dress isn't necessary, covering up is greatly appreciated and respected by the local population and by visitors from neighboring Muslim countries, who are numerous. Although most foreigners who live in the U.A.E., and most tourists to the U.A.E., don't follow these guidelines, you should make the effort to do so since all are simple and easy to follow.