When You Arrive in Abu Dhabi

When You Arrive in Abu Dhabi try to get your bearings. If you don’t already have one, purchase a map at the airport and follow your route to the hotel as you make your way there. At the hotel, ask the concierge to help you orient yourself vis a vis the front entrance to the hotel – this way you’ll be able to go for a walk and more easily be able to find your way home. You can also ask your concierge to help you mark on your map places that you will be visiting such as your company, prospective schools and housing options. Quiz the concierge about traffic patterns and get their opinion on travel times between different areas of the city. When combined with the opinions of others like your relocation agent and colleagues, you will be better informed to decide where you will live and where your children will go to school.

First things first:

When most expats step off the plane into a new life in the UAE they have a head full of anxieties and misconceptions about the culture, lifestyle and laws here. But in most cases you’ll find Abu Dhabi is neither as strict nor as conservative as you may have been led to believe. You can put your mind at ease by visiting www.abudhabi.ae and your local embassy for a full list of regulations, but here’s a quick summary of the most common concerns.

Dressing modestly:

It’s a good idea to dress with respect for the local culture, which for women means covering shoulders and knees and avoiding transparent or low-cut clothing. The only place you need to wear an abaya or headscarf is when you’re visiting the Sheikh Zayed Mosque (you’ll be provided with one on arrival). Paying attention to what you wear is particularly important in malls and restaurants, both of which are considered family places – you’ll see signs in most shopping malls asking you to dress appropriately. If you do go out in revealing clothes, you won’t get into trouble but you’ll probably attract some stares and may feel uncomfortable. However, there are exceptions to this rule – on the beach and by swimming pools you can wear your usual swimwear, although going topless is illegal. And if you’re out at a bar or a club it’s ok to wear a short skirt or dress.

Public displays of affection:

Holding hands is fine, and a peck on the cheek to say hello to a friend is tolerated. Anything more than that is not acceptable, so save kissing, cuddling and any other displays of physical affection for when you’re in private. Locals are genuinely offended by this and often won’t be inclined to turn a blind eye. Be careful, even when you’re in an expat bar or other places where the attitude is more liberal than elsewhere – plenty of expats over the years have got in serious legal trouble, including deportation for kissing in public.

Alcohol:

Regardless of what you’ve been told, it’s not hard to get a drink in Abu Dhabi, although it is a little expensive. Hotels are the only places licensed to serve alcohol, and so almost all have pubs and bars on the premises. These aren’t your typical sterile hotel bars that you find in other places across the world, though – most have plenty of buzz and character as this is where all the drinking-related nightlife goes on. There are also one or two off-licences in the city. You officially need a licence to purchase alcohol here. These are relatively easy to obtain as long as you’re a non-Muslim with a residence permit. Try Spinney’s on Hamdan Street for a large selection at reasonable prices.