A U.A.E. daily has said that the way Mohammed Al Qubaisi, 40, a father of five from Abu Dhabi, sees it, visiting the U.A.E. is like visiting someone's home – everything will be fine if one approaches the experience respectfully.
"Most local rules are common sense and most visitors know that for all the modernity and tolerance, this is still a Muslim country with conservative attitudes," said The National in its editorial on Sunday.
Even so, there are some less-intuitive aspects of local culture that bear explanation, and this is why Mr. Al Qubaisi has created a website listing the main 'dos and don'ts'. The initiative is to be commended as an exercise in cross-cultural communication. Knowing local customs is surely as important as knowing the laws of the land.
"Ought this to go further, with relevant information on video screens on flights bound for the U.A.E.? Should friendly tips on Emirati culture be handed out with visas? It's important to ensure that the millions of visitors who arrive in the U.A.E. enjoy the experience fully and nothing whatsoever is lost in translation," concluded the daily.