United Arab Emirates: rest, tours, description, interesting facts. UAE: interesting facts about the country and life in the Emirates

– amazing country, full of oriental exoticism and ultra-modern sights. Having visited at least one of her cities, you will learn a lot of new things, because life there is very different from our everyday life. But just reading about how they live on the shores of the Persian Gulf will be interesting to everyone.

United Arab Emirates - the most interesting facts

So, we bring to your attention the 20 most interesting facts about the country of the UAE:

The first and main thing that a potential tourist should learn is how striking is the contrast between the standard of living in the countries of the Persian Gulf and our native CIS. Thanks to the impressive deposits of oil and gas, as well as a favorable location on the way between Europe and the countries of the East United Arab Emirates ranked 5th in terms of GDP per capita.
The main religion of the state is Islam. For this reason, there are fairly strict rules regarding and appearance. In some emirates (for example, in), this is treated more loyally, in others (such as) - on the contrary, with all severity. These requirements apply not only to local residents, but also to tourists.
During Ramadan no one, including foreign guests, out of respect for the local religion, can eat during the day - the exception is only a few tourist restaurants with heavily curtained windows. And for those people who live on top of the tall skyscraper(it is located in Dubai city), they have to wait 2 minutes longer before they see that the sun has disappeared below the horizon, and they can start the meal.
Production and export of hydrocarbons form the backbone of the UAE economy, and despite this, the country invests a lot in the development and use of solar energy.
Most high building in the world is right here. It is 828 m high. It has 163 floors. In addition to him, a huge number of others have been built here - most of them in Dubai, along.

Retinal scan is waiting for everyone who enters the country as tourists. The state-of-the-art equipment of the country allows this procedure to be carried out, and thanks to it, the security in the country is at a high level. There are practically no illegal immigrants here.
Refusal of entry awaits those who have an Israeli visa in their passport, confirming that they have previously visited this country.
Climate in the UAE characterized by high temperature and humidity. In summer, 50-degree heat and 90% humidity make being outside almost unbearable. Because of this, absolutely all rooms, up to bus stops, are equipped with air conditioners.
lovers beach holiday It will be interesting to know such an interesting fact about the UAE: in each emirate, the sand on the coast is of a different color. For example, in it is snow-white, and in Dubai it has an orange tint.
Indigenous people UAE is a privileged class. Only 13% of the Arabs live here (the rest of the inhabitants of the UAE are Hindus, Pakistanis, etc.). Many of the aborigines do not work: they simply do not need it, since they receive an allowance from the state in the amount of about $ 2 thousand. Arabs can study at the expense of the state at any university in the world, they have many social guarantees. For example, young families from indigenous people receive 70 thousand dirhams (a wedding gift from the state) and a luxurious villa in addition. And for the birth of their first child, each family receives $50,000. Wealthy Arabs can afford to keep the most unusual pets, such as leopards.

Arab sheikhs are the richest people in the world. They buy golden laptops and hot tubs, keep huge fleets of vehicles and have up to 4 wives. The title of sheikh is given for life.
Founder of the UAE- Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who raised 19 sons. His fortune was estimated at $20 billion.
For women in the Emirates special conditions. They are provided with a separate car in, a special, "female" section on the bus and even a special taxi.
Bribery in the UAE- taboo. If you have any problems with the local police, you should not even try to offer a bribe - this will only increase your problems.
police cars here - these are the same Bentleys, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, which are driven by local residents, most of them very wealthy. It is believed that such cars help the police in the fight against criminals driving the same expensive cars.

Metro in Dubai- automatic, there is no driver in it. In the world, this is the first such experience in the history of the subway.
Address system very different from what we are used to. Each house here has not a number, but its own name.
Some free economic zones located in Dubai, Jebel Ali. There is no need to pay taxes. For this reason, many global companies do business here.
Unusual ATMs can be seen on the streets and in the shops of the UAE - they give out not only paper bills, but also gold bars.
Festival. In the 21st century, the inhabitants of the UAE prefer to ride not on camels, as before, but on modern expensive cars. In order not to forget the traditions, the President of the country established the Camel Festival, which is held in the emirate

United Arab Emirates - unique country, for some 40 years there was only a desert in this territory;
The UAE is indeed a rich country. There are 59 thousand dollar millionaires for 5 million people here;
The UAE has excellent social security. So, for the birth of a boy, the state makes a gift to the family in the amount of $50,000;
Every young family UAE receives from the government a comfortable villa and 70,000 dirhams (about $19,000) for a wedding;
The average monthly salary of a civil servant is about $10,000;
All these benefits apply only to local residents. 70% of the population of the UAE are workers from South and South-East Asia who receive $200-300 per month;
The UAE is a Muslim country, and there are a lot of prohibitions, especially those related to alcohol. So, in the emirate of Sharzha, a complete ban on alcohol, the use and transportation of which is considered a criminal offense;
It is forbidden to photograph buildings in the UAE public institutions, military installations, mansions, palaces, flags, local women. Men are allowed only with their permission;
Emirates is hell for hitchhiker, this is an administrative violation;
The government restricts freedom of speech. There is no yellow press in the UAE, they do not write about the personal life of sheikhs;
Many sites are blocked in the UAE. According to the Committee for the Supervision of Telecommunications, which controls access to the Internet, there may be harmful information, from the point of view of the Koran, information;

Non-Muslim tourists in the UAE are not allowed to visit mosques;
Shoes should be removed when entering mosques and houses. Prayers cannot be bypassed in front;
Littering is strictly prohibited on the streets. The fine for trash thrown on the street is 500 dirhams, even if you just missed the bin;
Fines for traffic violations are huge. Passing a red light will cost $800;
There is no traffic police in the United Arab Emirates. All violations are recorded by cameras, and at the end of the year, when passing a technical inspection, the driver is billed;
All bus stops in the same Dubai equipped with air conditioning;
The coldest months in the UAE are December and January. At this time, the average air temperature during the day is +28, at night +18. The question of where it is warm in winter disappears by itself.
One of the favorite sports in the UAE is camel racing. Moreover, now camels are controlled by miniature robots;
The UAE loves gold very much. According to statistics, each inhabitant of the Arab Emirates buys 38 grams of gold per year;
5 kilograms of gold jewelry should be presented by an Arab man in case of matchmaking with an Arab woman;
Arab men are increasingly marrying foreign women - no need to pay relatives for a bride;
In the UAE, people often marry not for love, but at the will of their parents - conservatism and religious customs leave no chance for young people to choose a life partner on their own;
The UAE has big problems with water. 30% comes from natural sources, the rest is so-called desalinated water;
Most of the emirates will run out of oil very soon. The only exception is the state of Abu Dhabi;
In the UAE, only 30 percent fresh water comes from natural sources or artesian wells. 70 percent of water is desalinated water. Desalination is a very energy-intensive and expensive process; 1 liter of such water costs four times more than natural water. Tap water in the UAE is quite clean, but it is still not recommended to use it without boiling;
Many UAE states will run out of oil by 2010. The only exception is the state of Abu Dhabi, which contains 95 percent of the country's total oil reserves. The states of Dubai and Sharjah are preparing in advance for the fact that the petrodollar supply of their economy will soon stop. Trade is successfully developing here (free economic zones are operating), tourism, industry, and even agriculture. Thus, in 2000, revenues from oil production amounted to only 12 percent of the GDP of the Emirate of Dubai;
In the mid-1980s, the UAE ruler, Sheikh Zayed, set the goal of reducing the country's dependence on foreign agricultural products. Large investments were attracted to agriculture: agro-farms and poultry farms were built. In air-conditioned greenhouses, 2-3 crops of tomatoes, cucumbers and potatoes are harvested here per year. Mangoes, apples, strawberries are grown from fruits. The UAE is famous for its dates. The most fertile areas of the UAE are the Al Ain oasis;
The Internet in the UAE has become widespread. Some hotels in the UAE provide access to the World Wide Web directly from the room. For example, hotels JUMEHARAH BEACH HOTEL, HILTON DUBAI JUMEIRAH, LE MERIDIEN MINA SEYAHI in Dubai. However, a department specially created by the UAE authorities blocks access to sites with reprehensible content or photos from the point of view of the Koran;

Capital UAE — Abu Dhabi- rightly called the "city-park". The imperative “Walk on the lawns!” operates here, exotic trees brought from all over the world grow, luxurious shady gardens turn green. As scientists have established, it is precisely because of the abundance of green spaces in the city average temperature air is usually 1-1.5 degrees lower than in the surrounding desert;
The coldest months in the UAE are December and January. At this time, the air temperature during the day averages +28, at night +18;
Religious customs leave Arab youth almost no opportunity to choose a life partner on their own - everything is decided by parents. This is probably why the percentage of divorces is very high here - (30 percent of marriages);
IN last years Emirates faced great problems in the family matter: more and more Arab women remain single. Arab men increasingly prefer to marry foreign women: no need to pay relatives for a bride;
In the mosque UAE Gentiles are usually not allowed. The only mosque in the confederation that deviates from this rule is the mosque in the city of Dubai, in the Jumeirah region. The mosque operates the Center for Cultural and Religious Understanding, which was established by Sheikh Maktoum in 1998. Organized visits to the mosque by tourists are held once a week, on Thursdays, from 10:00 am. The same center during Ramadan organizes for those who wish to visit the houses of local residents with participation in a festive meal (by appointment).

In fact, the United Arab Emirates is about the same as the United States - a number of separate emirates united in a common state. This is a rich and quite prosperous country, with luxury resorts and the best hotels in the world. However, it is interesting primarily because it is one of the most developed in Arab world, and it is fully characterized by oriental flavor.

Facts about the United Arab Emirates

About the same number of people live in the whole country as in St. Petersburg.
Until the middle of the last century, the territory of the UAE was a rather poor country under the British protectorate, whose inhabitants earned money mainly by pearl fishing.
In Dubai, there is the tallest building on Earth - the Burj Khalifa skyscraper with a height of 828 meters.
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi occupies 85% of the territory of the UAE.
In the Emirates, large predators live in the wild, in particular, leopards ().
Magnificent cities Dubai and Abu Dhabi grew up right in the desert in just 50-60 years, since oil was found in the UAE.
Part of the country's territory is occupied by the Rub al-Khali desert, in which the temperature regularly exceeds +50 degrees. This is the largest piece of the earth's surface, completely covered with sand ().
For the birth of a son, citizens of the United Arab Emirates receive a bonus of 50 thousand dollars from the state.
In case of marriage for a holiday, the state gives a young family 20 thousand dollars and a house.
In the UAE, it is forbidden to hitchhike, photograph women and government facilities, and transport and consume alcohol.
Strict Internet censorship in the United Arab Emirates blocks social networks and a number of popular video hosting sites like YouTube.
Crime in the UAE is practically non-existent.
Fines for speeding and other traffic violations are huge here. For example, overtaking across a solid line will result in a fine of up to $800.
IN public transport In the United Arab Emirates, there are separate carriages for men and women on trains and compartments on buses.
In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, many bus stops are completely closed and air-conditioned.
Due to the lack of fresh water, the UAE authorities have to desalinate the salty sea water.
One of the most popular entertainments among local sheikhs is camel racing.
In the United Arab Emirates, men are not allowed to wear shorts and sleeveless shirts. But you can wear short sleeve t-shirts.
You can and should bargain at local markets and bazaars - this is a tradition.
Trains in the UAE metro are controlled by a computer, without the help of drivers.
The only one in the Middle East is located in the Arabian Desert ski resort. Artificial, of course, but no less luxurious for that. It is also the largest indoor park in the world.
Local drivers usually don't even lock their cars. Here you can easily see a Lamborghini or Ferrari standing with the door unlocked. What to do - they don't steal here.
Indigenous people make up just over 10% of the UAE's population.
All the benefits of civilization apply only to citizens. Conditions for foreigners working in the country are quite different.
Local citizens either do not work, or run a business, or work in the civil service. The rest of the work in the United Arab Emirates is done by immigrants, often earning $300-400 per month. For comparison, the salary of a civil servant is on average $10,000, but only citizens are hired for civil service.
You can buy alcohol in UAE hotels, but after drinking it, it’s better not to go out, otherwise you can get in trouble with the police.
Despite the hot climate, fur coats are sold with might and main in the fashion boutiques of the United Arab Emirates. Tourists are willing to buy them.
Due to the proximity of the desert, the air is constantly filled with the finest dust. It seeps everywhere, even into houses with modern double-glazed windows, and covers all surfaces with a thin layer. Wet cleaning in the home has to be done often.
On average, a citizen of the UAE annually buys about 15 kg of gold. For obvious reasons, the main share falls on millionaire sheikhs, who make up about 1% of the population here.
Local fashionistas often wear the most modern designer clothes under the traditional black dress. However, apart from them, no one sees it anyway.
While women in the United Arab Emirates wear black, men usually dress in all white.
There are no traffic police in the United Arab Emirates. All offenses committed on the road are recorded by cameras.
In all crowded places in the UAE, there are many police officers in civilian clothes.
For women in the Emirates there is a special female taxi with female drivers.
In this country, an experiment was successfully carried out to artificially induce rain. True, they did not put the technology on stream, because it is very expensive.
The laws of the UAE allow men to have up to 4 wives, but this tradition is gradually becoming a thing of the past, since even many wealthy Arabs cannot afford the maintenance of such a harem.
A citizen of the United Arab Emirates can marry a foreigner, but a local woman does not have the right to marry a foreigner.
The UAE government pays citizens of the country to study at any university in the world of their choice, and even pays them a solid scholarship. And also pays for the flight to the place of study.
Emirates Airlines was recognized as the most valuable brand among all air carriers in the world.
Dubai is home to the world's largest flower park.

What comes to mind when you first mention UAE? Probably oil, sheiks and fantastic skyscrapers, right? It's right. But we want to expand your knowledge, and we offer you to learn something else interesting about the state, which just a few decades ago was just a desert. So, some interesting facts about the UAE.

About people

The UAE is a very rich country. A little more than 5 million people live in it, including 59 thousand dollar millionaires. Sheikh rules the state, and power is inherited. The country takes care of its newborns and at birth each child receives a huge social package. Boys are especially lucky: at birth, the family receives 50 thousand dollars. Until they reach adulthood, each child receives $150 a month. The state also takes care of young families. The government allocates from 18 to 30 thousand dollars for the wedding, and a young family receives a comfortable villa as a gift. At all local population receives free education, free healthcare and is entitled to free housing. There are few indigenous people in the UAE, less than 13%. The rest of the country's inhabitants come from South Asia and the Philippines. They basically work (the cheapest labor force). The average Arab earns about $15,000 a year in the UAE and has a $2,000 allowance. And a civil servant earns about $10,000 a month. By the way, women can serve in the UAE army and police.

About oil, money and gold

Thanks to oil revenues and skillful investment in the development of industry and agriculture, the country has become one of the most successful in the world. In the UAE, tourism began to develop rapidly, which is an integral part of the country's economy. And oil in the UAE is much cleaner than in Russia. The country's most a large number of ATMs per capita in the world. There is even an ATM that dispenses gold bars (at the Emirates Palace Hotel). Everyone in the UAE loves gold. You can imagine that every inhabitant of the Emirates annually buys 38 grams of gold. If an Arab wants to marry an Arab woman, then on the day of the matchmaking he is obliged to donate at least 5 kg of gold jewelry. Dubai is the center of the jewelry trade in the Middle East. Jewelers of the country constantly surprise with their products. So, in 1999, a gold chain was made, 4 kilometers long and 22 carats. Confectioners are not far behind. In the UAE, cupcakes are sold for $1,000 each. This is the Golden Phoenix. All the decorations on it are made of edible gold and chocolate, and the top of the cupcake is sprinkled with gold dust. The confection itself is served on a 24 carat gold cake stand.

About buildings

The most phantasmagoric buildings in the world were first built in Dubai. For example, the skyscraper World shopping mall in 1979, which remained the highest in the world until 1991. What can we say about the Burj Khalifa tower, which rushed up to 828 meters. And the fountain, which is located near the tower, shoots with jets of water at 130 meters, and the illumination of the fountain is visible at 35 meters in height. It also has its own "leaning tower" - Capital Gate in Abu Dhabi, with the largest slope in the world. The tallest residential building in the world is also built in Dubai - the residence of the Princes Tower (height 414 meters). In the list of the most great mosques The Sheikh Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi, which can accommodate up to 41 thousand believers, has also entered the world, has the largest chandelier in the world (15 m in height, 10 m in diameter and weighs more than 9 tons) and a carpet listed in the Book of Records Guinness (its length is 133 m, width 48 m, weight 48 tons). A artificial island Palm Jumeirah is even visible from space. In the near future, it is planned to open its own Disneyland - Dubailand, which will be twice as large as its counterpart.

About prohibitions and laws

Since the UAE is a Muslim country, prohibitions are strictly observed here and people live according to the laws of the Koran. In three emirates, the sale and consumption of alcohol is prohibited. The country does not allow photographing government institutions, military installations, private buildings and women. If you decide to hitchhike across the country, this may be fraught with an administrative violation. Freedom of speech is tight in the UAE. In no publication you will find anything about the personal life of the sheikhs. Also, on the Internet, a lot of social networks including Facebook. From the Quran's point of view, the Internet can contain harmful information. If you are not a Muslim, you are not allowed to enter the mosque (except those that are public places). When entering the mosque, you must take off your shoes. You will pay fines in the UAE for any reason - for abandoned garbage on the street, a fine of almost $ 136, for running a red light - $ 800, etc. But not only fines cost punishment. It is quite possible punishment in the form of public beatings or throwing stones. For adultery, you can generally lose your head.

About entertainment

Since the United Arab Emirates is located in the desert, one of the most popular entertainments here is the race of "ships of the desert" - camels. Previously, riders participated in the races. Now camels are controlled by robots. As an alternative to camel racing, desert jeep safaris are offered. Popular entertainment in the UAE is falconry - an elite entertainment and the privilege of the nobility. This is because the cost of birds is affordable only for the rich people of the UAE. Arabs love cinema. So, for example, on the island of Sir Bani Yas, you can watch movies just under open sky sitting comfortably on a sun lounger. If you want to plunge into winter, go to Sky Dubai Park. All conditions are created here for ski holidays: slopes, ski lifts, snowboarding, snowballs, snow slides and equipment rentals for winter views sports. The authorities of the emirates are trying to turn any desert piece of land into an oasis. But apart from shrubs, little grows in the desert. That is why palm trees are planted. Pleasure is not cheap. One palm tree costs about 10 thousand dollars. Since the climate in the country is hot all year round, the state has taken care that the bus stops in the country are closed and equipped with air conditioning.

And that's just part interesting facts about the United Arab Emirates. Going on vacation to the country of green oases and majestic dunes, you will get the most indelible impressions and an unforgettable adventure. The state took care of it. We wish you good luck!

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Arab astronomers

Do you know, for example, that the word “algebra” is of Arabic origin (al-jabar)? It was introduced into scientific circulation by the Arab geographer, mathematician and astronomer al-Khwarizmi. By the way, the name of this scientist (in a Latinized form) has been preserved in modern mathematics - “algorithm”. The Arabs are credited with the development of trigonometry and other areas of mathematics.

Do you know that the word “chemistry” (al-kimiya) is also directly related to scientific achievements Arabs? By the way, and “alchemy”, of course, from here. Ironically, it was the Arab alchemists, who were not allowed by the Muslim faith to use intoxicating drinks, who were lucky enough to invent a chemical compound, which they called al-kuhul - i.e. alcohol, alcohol! Many of the names of chemicals and compounds have Arabic names - for example, "potassium", "alkaloids", etc.

Do you know that the merits of the Arabs in the field of astronomy can hardly be overestimated? Look at the map of the starry sky, and you will see the star Altair (al-tair - bird), the star Aldebaran, other "Arabic" stars and constellations there. Arab astronomers made extensive use of the achievements of Iranian, Indian and ancient Greek sciences. Exactly under Arabic name The Almagest is a work of the famous astronomer Claudius Ptolemy written in the 2nd century AD. In 827, under Caliph Ma'mun, Arab scientists measured the geographical degree. The error per 111 kilometers was only one kilometer, i.e. less than 1%! The next measurement with such accuracy could be repeated in Europe only in the 16th-17th centuries!

Do you know what great geographers the Arabs were? While even the most enlightened Europeans believed in all sorts of fables about the seas and continents unknown to them, Arab merchants and travelers knew Africa very well, visited Central Asia, India and China. There were even permanent colonies of Arab traders in China. Many are of Arabic origin. geographical names- for example, Trafalgar (taraf al-gar - “edge of the cave”), Gibraltar (jabal tarik - “mountain of Tarik”), etc.

By the way, the Arabs, with whom we strongly associate the image of the inhabitants of the desert, were excellent sailors. The Arab pilot Ahmad Ibn Majid, who left to posterity the “Book of Useful Chapters on the Fundamentals and Rules of Marine Science”, in 1498 led the vessels of the Vasco da Gama flotilla to the shores of India. It was from the Arabs that Europeans learned to use the compass invented by the Chinese (as well as gunpowder!). Numerous evidence of the role of the Arabs in the development of maritime affairs nautical terms and names of Arabic origin - “barge” (from barij - a pirate ship), “galley” (from gurab - raven, the name of an Arab warship), as well as “admiral”, “cable”, “monsoon”, “mizan” , "Arsenal" ...