The ten that matter
- 1 · Dress modestly-ish in public: shoulders/knees covered is polite everywhere and required at the mosque (free abayas provided there).
- 2 · Ask before photographing people — especially women and families. Buildings and skylines: shoot freely.
- 3 · No public displays of affection beyond hand-holding for couples.
- 4 · Alcohol only in licensed venues — hotels and licensed restaurants; never public spaces.
- 5 · Left hand caution: give and receive with the right hand when meeting locals traditionally.
- 6 · Respect prayer times — patience if a shop briefly pauses.
- 7 · Ramadan daytime: eat and drink indoors during fasting hours. Full guide here.
- 8 · Language: "shukran" (thank you) delights everyone; English works everywhere.
- 9 · Queue-jumping and public anger land badly — the culture prizes composure.
- 10 · When unsure, ask your driver — that is literally what he is there for.
🤝 The honest summary: behave like a considerate guest and Abu Dhabi is among the most welcoming, safest cities you will transit.