Explore the Rich Heritage of the UAE

By Eman Abdallah Kamel

Eman is a writer and an engineer. She is interested in learning and writing about different cultures and sharing her thoughts with others.

Discover the Emirates. From traditional pearl diving and falconry to Bedouin desert and agriculture, explore the rich UAE heritage, culture, and history.

Introduction

The United Arab Emirates is a sovereign Arab state located in the eastern part of the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia.

It is a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi (the capital), Dubai (the tourism city and economic center), Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. It is governed by a Federal Supreme Council composed of the hereditary rulers of each emirate.

Before oil transformed the country, Emirati culture flourished thanks to a close relationship with nature and community. Let’s dive into this history and explore its heritage.

Key Facts

Official Name	United Arab Emirates (Al-Imarat al-Arabiyah al-Muttahidah)
Established	December 2, 1971 (Ras Al Khaimah joined in early 1972)
Geography	Bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south and west, Oman to the east, and overlooking the Arabian Gulf
Economy	Based on oil and natural gas reserves
Demographics	The UAE is known for its unique demographic composition, with expatriates and foreign workers making up approximately 85-90% of the total population

A Brief History

Before understanding culture, we must be familiar with history.

1. Bedouin Life

For centuries, the interior of the UAE has been home to Bedouin people in one of the harshest environments on Earth.

Seasonal Migration: The Bedouin lived according to a seasonal rhythm, moving across the desert in search of water, grazing land for their livestock, and shade.
Camels: The camel was the backbone of Bedouin society. It provided transportation, milk, meat, and wool for making tents.
Falconry: The Bedouin relied on falconry not as a hobby but as a vital tool for survival. Wild falcons, especially peregrine and saker falcons, were hunted during their autumn migration. Bedouin hunters developed close, trusting bonds with these birds over weeks of training. The falcons were used to hunt agile prey such as houbara bustards and hares, providing fresh meat for the Bedouin diet. It is worth noting that Bedouin traditions dictated releasing falcons into the wild at the end of the hunting season to preserve their numbers.
Social Structure: Life was organized around interconnected tribal structures, where hospitality, loyalty, and resource sharing were essential for survival.

History of the UAE. Bedouin men riding camels

Bedouin women weaving sadu. Ancient photo.

2. Marine Life

The shallow waters of the Arabian Gulf teemed with life, with mangrove forests providing nurseries for fish, while vast seagrass meadows fed enormous numbers of dugongs and sea turtles. Coastal communities were heavily dependent on this marine abundance. Fishing was carried out using traditional tools such as girgour (woven wire baskets) and shasha (boats made of palm fronds).

3. Pearl Diving

Before the discovery of oil, pearl diving was the economic lifeline of the region. It peaked during the scorching summer months from June to September. The operation was arduous and dangerous; it can be summarized as follows:

The crew: Divers and their assistants were crammed onto wooden sailboats for months at a time.
The diving: Equipped only with a nose clip made from a turtle shell, leather finger guards, and a stone weight for rapid descent, divers descended to depths of up to 18 meters (60 feet) on the seabed.
The Toll: A diver had to hold their breath for up to two minutes, repeating this process several times a day.

4. The Modern Union

The region’s trajectory changed with the discovery of oil in Abu Dhabi in 1958. On December 2, 1971, the six emirates officially formed the United Arab Emirates, with Ras Al Khaimah joining the following year.

The Identity of the United Arab Emirates

The identity of the United Arab Emirates is based on a rich tapestry of Arab and Islamic heritage, shaped over centuries of adaptation to some of the world’s most challenging desert and maritime environments (Union Atlas, 2022). Long before oil was discovered and the country became a global economic hub, the region’s cultural landscape was shaped by two opposing realities: nomadic Bedouin life and a thriving maritime trading economy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2026).

The Pillars of Emirati Heritage

The historical legacy of the United Arab Emirates can be understood through three distinct environments that defined traditional means of survival, social structure, and cultural practices:

The desert (Bedouin life): In the arid interior, nomadic Bedouin communities relied heavily on animal herding and falconry. This harsh environment fostered a social system deeply rooted in tribal loyalty, hospitality, and generosity—values that remain fundamental to Emirati society today (UAE Embassy, 2023).
The coast (pearl trade and maritime trade): Before the economic crisis of the 1930s, the pearl industry was the main economic lifeline of the country’s coast (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2026). Divers ventured into the waters of the Arabian Gulf during the summer months, while shipbuilders and traders connected the region to international trade routes extending to India, China, and Europe.
Oasis (Agriculture): In areas such as Al Ain, settled human communities have flourished since the Neolithic period (Union Atlas, 2022). Using the ancient Al-aflaj system (irrigation canal), these communities cultivated palm trees and established early agricultural economies.

Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah, the UAE. Image source: Istockphotos.com — Al Noor Mosque in Sharjah. Istockphotos.com

Al Falaj water channel in the UAE. Image source: Istockphotos.com — Al Falaj water channel. Istockphotos.com

Machboos is a traditional food in the UAE. Image source: Stock.adobe.com — Machboos. Stock. Adobe.com

Language

Arabic is the primary language, followed by English, in the United Arab Emirates. However, the UAE’s diverse population means visitors may also hear other languages such as Urdu, Hindi, and Pashto.

Religion

Although the population of the United Arab Emirates comprises over 200 nationalities, Islam (submission to God) is the predominant religion. Islam is based on five pillars: the declaration of faith (shahada, the Arabic term for the declaration of faith in one God (Allah) and His messenger (the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him)), prayer (salat), Ramadan month fasting (sawm), almsgiving (zakat), and pilgrimage (hajj).

Food

Khameer, locally known as “soft bread,” is a golden, fluffy flatbread that easily separates into two layers. In the UAE, dates are traditionally added to sweeten khameer instead of sugar, along with additional flavorings such as fennel, saffron, and cardamom.
Machboos is a tasty rice dish that is popular with both locals and visitors. It is cooked in a broth of lamb, chicken, or seafood. Golden saffron rice is distinguished by a spice blend that includes cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom. Influenced by trade with India, Machboos is similar in form and flavor to Indian biryani.
Luqaimat is fried dough coated in sugar, known in Arabic as “little bites.” Served with a cup of hot coffee. These dumplings are characterized by their crispy exterior and are coated in date syrup.

Crafts

Sadu is a traditional weaving technique in the United Arab Emirates and a cornerstone of Bedouin culture. Emirati women have practiced Sadu for generations; it is a traditional technique for weaving camel hair, goat hair, or sheep wool to create blankets, rugs, cushions, and tents. Due to its significance, Sadu was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2011.

Heritage Sites

The cultural sites of Al Ain (Hafit, Hili, Bidaa Bint Saud, and the oases) are among the most significant and ancient human settlements in the United Arab Emirates. These sites were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. They encompass successive periods that testify to the settled human presence in this region since the Neolithic period, revealing the remains of numerous ancient civilizations, including the following:

Prominent features such as circular stone tombs dating back to approximately 2500 BCE,
Water wells,
Groups of brick buildings, towers, palaces, and other remains,
Hili stands out as one of the earliest examples of a sophisticated irrigation system known as “aflaj,” dating back to the Iron Age.

Preserving the Heritage

In modern times, the United Arab Emirates places the utmost national priority on protecting its tangible and intangible history. This includes preserving archaeological masterpieces, such as Bronze Age tombs dating to the Hafeet era and UNESCO World Heritage sites in Al Ain, as well as intangible traditions like folklore, weaving (Sadu), and communal coffee drinking (Atlas of the Union, 2022).

“The UAE has paid special attention to preserving the tangible and intangible cultural heritage for future generations… introducing its heritage to the public and spreading cultural awareness in society.”
Union Atlas

By integrating the preservation of historical heritage with modern development, the United Arab Emirates uses its heritage as a key anchor, ensuring that its future remains closely linked to its past.

Sources

Latest Posts

LongWayEducation

The Long Way Education Site path is based on self-learning. Here you will learn about science, education, and religion. You will also learn about fiber and its manufacture. And different engineering disciplines, such as mechanical and industrial engineering.