Culture of the United Arab Emirates
pattern of human activity and symbolism associated with the United Arab Emirates and its people
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. Islam has had a prominent influence on local architecture, music, attire, cuisine, and lifestyle. In cities such as Dubai, cultural experiences have evolved through a mix of traditional heritage and modern influences, reflected in festivals, arts, and social activities.
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.
History
Artifacts uncovered in the UAE show a history of human habitation, transmigration, and trade spanning over 125,000 years. The area was previously home to the Magan people known to the Sumerians, who traded with both coastal towns and bronze miners and smelters from the interior. A rich history of trade with the Harappan culture of the Indus Valley is also evidenced by finds of jewelry and other items and there is also extensive early evidence of trade with Bactria as well as the Levant.
Arabic culture
The UAE's official language is Arabic, but English is widely spoken due to the country's diverse nature and economic globalization.
“Culture of the United Arab Emirates” enters the record as pattern of human activity and symbolism associated with the United Arab Emirates and its people. Crown Archives preserves that source wording while asking what Culture, United and Arab can confirm, complicate or overturn.
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This entry incorporates text from “Culture of the United Arab Emirates” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.