UAE is a beautiful country and boasts of surreal beaches, huge malls, luxury hotels and excellent job opportunities. It's one of the most livable places in the world, and is also one of the top holiday destinations in the Middle East. However, the place has its own brand of quirks and lived-in charms. Here are some of the things only an Emirati will understand.
We love shawarmas and have developed fine aesthetic taste for them! We love to discuss and debate about which is the best shawarma in town, and dissect each others' favourites! We also hold unreasonably strong opinions about this particular food item.
For most of the world, anything above 35 degrees Celsius is declared 'hot'. But in UAE, the heat is so extreme that we don't complain about it unless its above 45 degrees Celsius!
Dubai, especially, has so many rooftop bars that tourists are almost intimidated by them! These bars cater to a variety of clientele, and are located in each and every nook and cranny of the city. Even other parts of UAE boast of these cozy, comfortable bars, which stay open well past the Cinderella hour!
Can chips actually have the power of national symbolism and national pride? Well, yes, definitely, if you know of Chips Oman! These are so popular that every single household gorges on them and enjoys them! Its not surprising to hear some people even go so far as to call it the unofficial national dish.
Going to a mall is often considered as the most common hobby for people in the UAE. Malls have become a place for socialising and recreation besides shopping for the young and old alike. You can easily spend a whole day in the mall as you will find everything you want to do in one place.
UAE has a very different geographical structure and this means only the residents are aware of the intricacies. From the peaceful beauty of the sand dunes to the grace of the gazelle, from the heat of the bright summer sun to the coolness of the oasis, the UAE has a lot to offer. But it also has a very distinctive structure. Not everyone knows that Dubai is not a country! Also, outsiders forget that Saudi Arabia is another country.
There are laptops, and then there are laptops with Arabic keyboard and symbols. Not everyone who has lived in different countries will realize this, but we the Emirati take special pride in our language.
The romance with Indian movies continues in the UAE. In fact, it's been taken to a new level with Indian filmmakers coming here for shoots. There are all kinds of love stories which are popular in Bollywood, but none is so popular as our love story with the industry! Movies here are treated as special outings and wonderful kind of rendezvous with the beloved stars on the big screen.
The nation is crazy for Bollywood songs. If music is the food of love, play on, Shakespeare said. Well, UAE certainly lives for that kind of song! The songs of Bollywood are played day in day out, on stereos, radios, and laptops. They have a special kind of charm which places them right at the centre of every Emirati heart.
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