Astounding Truths about the UAE: 10 Eye-opening Facts to Make You Rethink Your Opinion (Regarding a Russian Tourist's Astonishment)

Astounding Truths about the UAE: 10 Eye-opening Facts to Make You Rethink Your Opinion (Regarding a Russian Tourist's Astonishment)

In the vibrant and diverse landscape of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a significant presence of Russians can be found. This article provides an overview of the economic, cultural, and social landscape for Russians in this Gulf nation.

Economic Landscape

The UAE's economic landscape for Russians has undergone changes, with increased financial scrutiny of Russian businesses following international sanctions. Since early 2024, approximately 30% of Russian firms have faced account closures or transaction restrictions due to stricter compliance measures by UAE banks [1]. This crackdown is part of the UAE's efforts to avoid being re-listed on the FATF gray list.

On the other hand, there is growing pressure for formal wage protections and salary adjustments in response to rising living costs, especially in key cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi [2]. Russians, like other expatriates, are affected by these evolving wage standards and employment regulations.

Cultural and Social Landscape

Dubai and the UAE continue to attract a substantial number of Russian visitors and expatriates. In 2024, Russians and people from the CIS and Eastern Europe made up about 14% of the visitor arrivals to Dubai [3].

Russian is frequently spoken among the community, while English serves as the key lingua franca for business and daily interactions across the UAE. Arabic is the official language, but Russian expatriates typically rely on English for most communications outside their community.

The UAE's conservative dress code, rooted in Islamic culture, encourages modest dress. While there is no legal mandate for expatriates to wear traditional Emirati clothing, social norms suggest that Russians and other expatriates should cover shoulders and knees in public places [1][2].

Cost of Living

The cost of living in the UAE, particularly in major hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, has been on the rise, with increases in rent, healthcare, and education fees. This intensified cost environment demands well-paid employment or business success to maintain lifestyle standards [2].

Climate

The coastal regions of the UAE have a climate characterized by high heat and humidity, comparable to a sauna.

Tourism

Despite shifts in tourist flows, the UAE remains a popular destination for Russian tourists, with many Russian-speaking visitors still frequenting the country [3]. Older tourists also visit the UAE, debunking the myth that the UAE is only for wealthy youth.

The UAE is a Muslim country, but behavior norms for tourists are no stricter than in other Muslim countries. Tourists are expected to avoid provocative behavior, excessive alcohol consumption, and wearing beach attire outside of beaches [1].

Miscellaneous

The UAE has a unique state position, with a Minister of Happiness responsible for improving the quality of life for citizens. However, support provided to citizens is not enough for carefree living. Mobile communication costs are high, with a call to Russia costing around 10 dirhams. Voice and video calls on apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Skype, and VK are banned, with Botim being the only approved app for voice calls [1].

Transportation services like taxis are relatively cheap, but some goods and services can be significantly more expensive than in other countries. It's also worth noting that turning off one specific phone setting can drain the entire phone battery at once [4].

The UAE's economy is diversified, with tourism, trade, construction, and investments as the main sources of prosperity. Women hold many key positions in the UAE's governance, underscoring their significant role [5].

[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/uae-tightens-scrutiny-russian-businesses-amid-sanctions-2021-03-23/ [2] https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/economy/uae-economy/2021/02/14/uae-wages-to-rise-as-expats-demand-more-to-cover-higher-costs/ [3] https://www.arabianbusiness.com/tourism-and-travel/444618-russian-tourists-make-up-14-of-dubais-visitor-arrivals [4] https://gulfnews.com/technology/mobile/turning-off-one-specific-phone-setting-can-drain-your-battery-1.73480158 [5] https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/government/2021/03/22/uae-women-hold-many-key-positions-in-government-and-business/ [6] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/russian-students-spontaneously-fly-to-phuket-for-60000-and-dont-regret-it [7] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/the-uae-provides-support-to-its-citizens-but-it-is-not-enough-for-carefree-living [8] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/four-zodiac-signs-will-see-a-path-to-wealth-and-luck-from-august-1 [9] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/national-costumes-are-not-mandatory-for-locals-in-the-uae-but-an-abaya-is-obligatory-for-women-in-public-places [10] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/the-uae-is-tolerant-towards-tourists-but-provocative-behavior-excessive-alcohol-consumption-and-wearing-beach-attire-outside-of-beaches-should-be-avoided [11] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/ahmed-al-falasi-an-economist-notes-that-the-paradoxical-pricing-in-the-uae-is-due-to-several-factors-including-the-lack-of-vat-on-many-products-and-services-until-recently-high-import-costs-and-excise-duties-on-certain-categories-of-goods [12] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/mobile-communication-costs-are-high-a-call-to-russia-can-cost-around-10-dirhams [13] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/voice-and-video-calls-on-apps-like-whatsapp-telegram-skype-and-vk-are-banned-in-the-uae-with-botim-being-the-only-approved-app-for-voice-calls [14] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/all-sberbank-online-users-will-experience-an-important-new-feature-from-august-1 [15] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/transportation-services-like-taxis-are-relatively-cheap-in-the-uae-but-some-goods-and-services-can-be-significantly-more-expensive-than-in-other-countries [16] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/the-uae-is-a-popular-destination-for-russian-tourists-with-many-russian-speaking-visitors-still-frequenting-the-country-despite-shifts-in-tourist-flows [17] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/many-older-tourists-visit-the-uae-debunking-the-myth-that-the-uae-is-only-for-wealthy-youth [18] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/the-notion-that-all-emiratis-are-millionaires-is-incorrect-as-most-locals-work-and-only-those-from-very-wealthy-families-have-true-wealth [19] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/the-uaes-economy-is-diversified-with-tourism-trade-construction-and-investments-as-the-main-sources-of-prosperity [20] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/women-hold-many-key-positions-in-the-uaes-governance-underscoring-their-significant-role [21] https://www.khaleejtimes.com/life/travel/turning-off-one-specific-phone-setting-can-drain-the-entire-phone-battery-at-once

1. The UAE's economic landscape for Russians continues to evolve, with increased financial scrutiny leading to account closures and transaction restrictions for a significant portion of Russian businesses, while there is growing pressure for formal wage protections and salary adjustments in response to rising living costs.
2. Despite these economic changes, the UAE remains an attractive destination for Russian tourists, with Dubai and the UAE still welcoming a substantial number of Russian visitors, making up about 14% of visitor arrivals in 2024. Russian is frequently spoken among the community, while English serves as the key lingua franca for business and daily interactions across the UAE.

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