Culture and People 

The most highly prized virtues of the Arab world are courtesy and hospitality. And they charm there guests the genuine warmth and friendliness. The serving of freshly ground Arabic coffee flavoured with cardamom is a sign of welcome. This is poured from the traditional long-spouted Arabic coffee pot into small cups with no handles. It is considered polite to accept one, two or three cups and then shake the cup gently from side to side to indicate you have had enough.

The family is the most important institution in Arab society encompassing grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, etc as well as the immediate nuclear family unit. Relationships within these extended families are strong and respect is accorded to the elder members.

Marriages are arranged between families, although the bride and bridegroom naturally have to agree to the liaison. Wedding celebrations are major occasions lasting for several days. They involve feasting, music and dancing. Women are respected in Islamic society, taking their place at the heart of the family. Women also have equal educational opportunities and increasingly work outside the home.

The Traditional sport that is still practiced is the sport of falconry, a unique partnership between man and bird, and it is not unusual to see a hooded falcon being trained on its owner’s gloved wrist.

The ancient sport of camel racing attracts a sizeable following and substantial purses for champions.

Throughout history, the Arab's have maintained great love of horses. This tradition lives on today in the rapid growth and development of horse racing in Dubai in recent years, including the establishment of the Dubai World Cup — the world’s richest horse race.

There is only one permanent theatre company in Dubai. The Indian Playhouse, the Intercontinental Hotel, features performances by Burjor Patel Productions and hosts the travelling British Airways Playhouse, which makes frequent visits to Dubai.

There are a number of dance schools in Dubai like the renowned Ballet Center, behind, with ballet, jazz, tap and modern dance. In addition, belly-dancing and traditional dances are a mainstay in Arabic nightclubs, such as Al-Diwan, Metropolitan Palace Hotel and Escoba, Al-Khaleej Palace Hotel.

The Dubai International Congress Center and The Crowne Plaza Hotel are the main venues that host visiting orchestras and musicians from around the world. Arabic nightclubs are the main venues for traditional Arabian music.