The Culture of the United Arab Emirates is part of the culture of Eastern Arabia.

Its historical population

was a small tribal community that changed with the arrival of an influx of foreign nationals in the mid-
20th century. Emirati culture is a blend of Arabian, Islamic, and Persian cultures, with influences from
the cultures of East Africa and Indian Subcontinent.

In the United Arab Emirates, the city of Al Ain in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. The Emirate of Sharjah was named "The Cultural capital of the Arab World" by UNESCO in 1998 and
the "Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014" by the OIC.

Arabic culture
The UAE's official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken due to the country's diverse nature
and economic globalization.[14][15][16] Farsi, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and Mandarin are also widely spoken
by expatriates from Iran, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and China.[17][18][19]

Native Emirati nationals speak the Gulf Arabic, which is similar to that spoken in other GCC countries and
Iraq.

Greetings and social customs.

When entering a Majlis, guests will start greeting individuals from the right side to the left side of the
room, unless there is an elderly guests, who should be greeted first. For men, the traditional Emirati
greeting is the khushmak, or touching of the noses. Women greet each other by shaking hands and
giving a kiss on the cheek. Kissing the top of the head is also a common way of greeting in the UAE.[35]
Members of the opposite sex should not embrace unless they are closely related.

Literature and poetry

Themes in Emirati poetry are diverse, ranging from satire, self-praise, and patriotism, to chivalry,
religion, family, and love.[36][37][38]

As in many other Arab countries, poetry is considered a key art form. Traditional forms persist today,
although some Western styles of prose poetry have gained popularity.

The first Emirati novel, Shahenda, was written by Rashid Abdullah Al Nuaimi.

Contemporary literary figures include Nujoom Al-Ghanem, Ousha Al Sha'er, Khalid Albudoor, and Aisha
Al Kaabi.
Music, dance, and film
A band performs the Ayyala, which is a cultural dance derived from Arab tribes sword battles.

The United Arab Emirates is a part of the Arab khaleeji tradition. Yowlah is a type of music and dance
performed mainly in communities of Bantu people from the African Great Lakes region.[40] One of the
UAE's most famous traditional singers is Mehad Hamad, who is known for singing patriotic lyrics and
poems about the desert.[41][42]

Many traditional songs and dances, handed down from generation to generation, have survived to the
present time. Young girls would dance by swinging their hair, which was traditionally worn long, and
swaying their bodies. Men often re-enacted battles or successful hunting expeditions using a weapon
dance; such as the Yowlah.