Survey: Over 70% of expats unfamiliar with UAE customs, traditions

A recent survey conducted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) revealed that some 72 percent of expatriates there "lack knowledge of UAE local customs and traditions," a report of the news site Emirates 24/7 said on Saturday. The Commission on Filipinos (CFO) said some 610,000 Filipinos are currenly residing in UAE. The survey, conducted by '999 Magazine' ­– the official English monthly of the Ministry of Interior – asked 2,000 UAE expats about their level of cultural awareness. The survey was published in the February issue of English 999 magazine which aims to encourage the public to reduce crime in the UAE. The 999 survey covered:

• Westerners (39 percent),
• Asian (42 percent),
• Arabs (15 percent), and
• Africans and others (4 percent).

The survey noted that:

• 77 percent of those surveyed had lived in the UAE for more than a year,
• 34 per cent between two and five years,
• 22 per cent between five and 10 years, and
• 21 percent of them more than 10 years.

Of the 2,000 people questioned, only 60 percent said they only knew the basics about UAE culture and history. Some 12 percent of those surveyed admitted to "knowing next to nothing," the report said. The survey showed that even though learning resources and materials are available, "a whopping 72 percent of expats know little about their host country," Emirates 24/7 said. "Only 28 percent of respondents had any real knowledge of the country’s local customs and traditions," it added. The survey noted that 11 of the respondents admitted that they never really bothered trying to learn UAE customs and traditions. The report quoted Lt. Colonel Awadh Saleh Al Kindi, Editor-in-Chief of 999 magazine, as saying: “The UAE is home to more than 200 different nationalities and has become known across the world for its low crime, modern outlook and the peaceful co-existence of its people. He noted that many "expat residents have a very limited knowledge of the customs, traditions, and heritage of the UAE.  We hope that the results of the survey will stimulate people to exert greater efforts in this area.” - VVP, GMA News