UAE differences from the US

I've made a list of things that differ from things that I'm used to in the US:


Instead of Napkins on the dinner table - they have boxes of tissues. It serves a dual purpose at the table I guess.

Light switches flip down to turn on and up to turn off.

The water from the faucet is warm or hot. Cold water doesn't come out of the pipes which means no cold showers and you brush your teeth in warm water. :(

The McDonalds here serves a McArabia Sandwich.


You have to ask for a check at the end of dinner or they won't bring it.

You typically don't tip your waiters/waitresses.

All of the roadway striping is white so you can't tell if you are on a one-way or a two-way road.

Parking is so bad that people will double park and leave their phone number on their car so that you can get a hold of them when you are ready to leave.

Cell phones only use minutes for outgoing calls, not incoming. So the person that double parks (that I mentioned above) then is using the other person's minutes. Really it's a win-win for the double parker.

Many of the Emirates talk on the phone with an ear piece held in their hand. Kind of defeats the whole purpose of a hands free device.

You ask for the toilet, not the restroom.

You spell colour, not color.

The work week is Sunday-Thursday.