Understanding Local Religious Practices for a Better Expat Experience in the UAE

Published on May 4, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Settling in the United Arab Emirates means entering one of the most unique religious environments in the world: a country that is officially Muslim, deeply marked by Islam, but where more than 200 nationalities coexist and practice a wide range of religions. For an expatriate, the key to successful integration lies in a solid understanding of these religious practices and how they shape daily, social, and professional life.

Good to know:

This article is a practical guide to understanding the religious landscape and legal framework in the UAE. It aims to help adopt the right behaviors in professional and daily life, avoiding stereotypes and the fear of making mistakes.

A Muslim country… and a mosaic of religions

The United Arab Emirates has Islam as its official religion. About three-quarters of the population identify as Muslim, and over 90% of Emirati citizens are Muslim. Islam influences the law, the holiday calendar, the organization of time, and many social norms.

But this framework coexists with an exceptional religious diversity for the region. Expatriates make up nearly 90% of residents, forming a mix of over 200 nationalities. You will find Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jews, Jains, and other minorities, often gathered around well-established places of worship.

Available estimates show this diversity, even though figures vary by source.

This diversity is not accidental. The Constitution, adopted when the country was founded in 1971 and made permanent in 1996, guarantees freedom of worship “in accordance with established customs” as long as it does not contradict public order or morality. The country has also established a Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and launched a National Tolerance Program. The year 2019 was declared the “Year of Tolerance”; it also marked the first visit of a pope to the Arabian Peninsula, when Pope Francis signed the Document on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi alongside the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar.

Caution:

For an expatriate, practicing one’s faith offers great practical freedom, but it comes with a very strict legal framework regarding respect for religions, proselytism, or public discourse.

What the law says: freedom of worship, but a red line on proselytism

The key text for an expatriate is Article 32 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom to practice one’s religion as long as it remains in line with customs and public morality. On this basis, dozens of non-Muslim places of worship have obtained land or official licenses.

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The minimum prison sentence provided by the 2023 federal decree for contempt of religion in the United Arab Emirates.

Two principles are essential for expatriates:

– proselytism is prohibited: attempting to convert Muslims to another religion, distributing aggressive flyers, or making speeches that explicitly incite changing one’s faith can lead to prosecution;

– hate speech or insults against religions, including online, are criminalized; the UAE also enforces strict cybercrime and defamation laws.

Good to know:

Federal Law No. 9 of 2023 strictly regulates non-Muslim places of worship. It stipulates that a national committee must recognize the religions or currents allowed, and each center must obtain a renewable license. These places are prohibited from engaging in political activities or proselytism. Violations can lead to administrative fines of up to 1 million dirhams and criminal penalties of up to 3 million dirhams.

For a religious expatriate, this does not hinder personal practice (wearing a religious symbol, praying, attending worship), but it requires restraint regarding any active conversion efforts or controversial behavior in public or professional spaces.

Islam in daily life: rhythms, prayers, and festivals that shape local life

To understand local religious practices, you first need to grasp the concrete place of Islam in daily life.

Muslims perform five daily prayers at specific times determined by the position of the sun. The call to prayer (adhan) rings out from minarets five times a day. The day is structured around these moments of reflection: at dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The Friday midday prayer (Jumu’ah) replaces the noon prayer and is a central moment of the week. It is on this day that sermons address religious, ethical, or social topics.

Good to know:

In a standard work schedule (e.g., 9 AM–5 PM), a Muslim employee may need to pray 2 to 3 times a day. These moments, including ablutions, usually last between 10 and 15 minutes. It is common for companies to provide a prayer room or allow the occasional use of an empty meeting room.

The Islamic calendar, based on a lunar cycle of 354 or 355 days, shifts major holidays by about 11 days each year relative to the Gregorian calendar. The main highlights are:

Example:

The Muslim calendar is marked by several major events. The month of Ramadan is a period of fasting observed from dawn to sunset. It is followed by Eid al-Fitr, a festival marking the end of the fast, celebrated with collective prayers, family meals, and almsgiving. Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, takes place during the pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj). Other important commemorations include the Hijri New Year, the Night of the Prophet’s Ascension, and the celebration of his birth.

The state sets the list of public holidays each year, combining these religious festivals with civic events (Commemoration Day, National Day). The exact dates of Islamic holidays are confirmed by an official moon-sighting committee, often only a day or two in advance. In total, the country has about fourteen official public holidays, at least ten of which are mandatory for the private sector.

For an expatriate, this calendar has very concrete impacts: changes to work hours, public services, and store openings; a rush on plane tickets before long weekends; and sometimes salary supplements for those working on religious holidays.

Ramadan: how to adapt without missteps

Ramadan is, for the vast majority of Muslims, the highlight of the year. It is a month of fasting from food, but also of behavioral restraint, intensive prayer, generosity, and introspection.

From an expatriate’s perspective, it is also the period when misunderstandings are most likely. The basic rule, very simple, is this: during the day, do not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in public. The law explicitly provides penalties for those who break these rules in public during Ramadan, even if they are not Muslim. In practice, enforcement can be lenient, but it is best to avoid any incidents.

Tip:

Non-Muslim expatriates can continue to eat during Ramadan by following some rules of discretion. Restaurants, especially in big cities, remain open, sometimes with separate areas or without mandatory curtains. Hotels maintain room service and buffets for their guests. In the workplace, most companies provide a closed room where non-fasting employees can have lunch without disturbing their colleagues.

The other major change concerns working hours. Labor law provides for a two-hour reduction in the workday for all employees during Ramadan, whether they fast or not. Companies therefore often organize schedules like 9 AM–3 PM or 10 AM–4 PM, with little or no lunch break.

Example:

As the time for breaking the fast approaches, traffic increases. In some cities, a cannon shot (Midfa al-Iftar) announces Iftar. Families then gather to share dates, milk or laban, soups, traditional dishes, and desserts. After the meal, mosques welcome the faithful for the long night prayers (tarawih).

For an expatriate, Ramadan can be an opportunity to discover very lively traditions: invitations to iftar in Emirati homes, large themed buffets in hotels, tents set up by charities to offer meals to low-income workers. Systematically refusing these invitations is often seen as aloofness; accepting, arriving on time, and dressing more modestly are, on the contrary, marks of respect that are highly appreciated.

Dress codes: modesty, context, and differences between emirates

The United Arab Emirates does not legally impose a dress code on non-Muslims. However, customs are clear: a so-called “modest” outfit is expected in public spaces, especially in shopping malls, government buildings, residential neighborhoods, or near mosques.

Tip:

The simplest rule to remember is to cover at least the shoulders and knees, avoiding overly tight or transparent clothing. Practically, for expatriate women, midi dresses or skirts, loose pants, tunics, blouses with sleeves, and tops that do not reveal the navel or cleavage strike a good balance between comfort and local respect. For men, T-shirts or short-sleeved shirts (not tank tops) and knee-length shorts are acceptable in many places, but pants are preferable in more traditional areas or in offices.

Codes can vary from one emirate to another: Dubai is known as the most permissive, Sharjah and Ajman are more conservative, while Abu Dhabi falls in between depending on the neighborhood. In mosques open to non-Muslim visitors—like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi or the Jumeirah Mosque in Dubai—strict rules apply: arms and legs covered for everyone, hair covered for women, loose-fitting, non-transparent clothing. These places usually lend abayas and scarves for women, and kandouras for men who are not appropriately dressed.

Good to know:

Expatriate women are not required to wear the abaya or veil on a daily basis. These garments are worn by tradition and faith by Emirati women. Imitating them, for example for a photo shoot, can be seen as folkloric. However, doing so in inappropriate contexts or in a caricatured way risks being poorly perceived.

Beachwear, on the other hand, is tolerated only on public and private beaches, pools, and water parks. Bikinis and one-piece swimsuits are allowed, but partial nudity (topless) is prohibited everywhere, even in luxury hotels. As soon as you leave the sand or pool, you need to put on a cover-up, even to cross a lobby.

Finally, during Ramadan, sensitivities are heightened: expatriates are expected to dress even more soberly, even in places where relaxation is usually allowed.

Places of worship: mosques, churches, temples, synagogue

The UAE’s religious landscape can be read in its architecture. The country has thousands of mosques, from small neighborhood prayer rooms to the spectacular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, capable of holding up to 55,000 worshippers and a global attraction. Built on a vast marble esplanade, it aims to be both a center of prayer and a cultural bridge: guided tours in multiple languages explain the rites, Islamic art, and the role of Islam in society.

For over twenty years, under the slogan “Open Doors. Open Minds.”, it has offered educational tours where ritual ablutions are demonstrated, visitors’ questions are answered, and an Emirati snack is served. For an expatriate, these places are ideal for discovering Muslim practices from the inside and asking questions, without discomfort, that you might not dare to bring up at the office.

Jumeirah Mosque, Dubai

But these flagship mosques should not overshadow another central element of the Emirati model: the official presence of places of worship for other religions. The country has formalized a set of non-Muslim prayer centers, recognized and regulated.

The Emirati authorities have pushed the symbolism of religious coexistence very far with the construction of the Abrahamic Family House on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi: a complex bringing together, on the same site, a mosque, a church, and a synagogue, all of equal height, each respecting its own rites but connected by a shared interpretation center. For an expatriate, this complex very concretely illustrates how the country intends to articulate Islamic identity with religious pluralism.

Good to know:

In Dubai, most Christian churches (Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant) are located on land granted by the state, often grouped in ‘church districts’. They offer services in many languages (English, Arabic, Hindi, Tamil, Tagalog, French, Russian, etc.), making them essential social hubs for expatriate communities.

How non-Muslim places of worship are regulated

The federal law on non-Muslim places of worship sets precise rules for the creation and operation of these centers. It requires a minimum of 20 founding members, at least 40 years old, long-term residents of good character, to support the license application. The worship must belong to a religion or current expressly recognized by a national committee.

Caution:

Once granted legal personality, the place of worship must manage its internal affairs within a strict framework: prohibition of political activities and proselytism, control of fund transfers abroad, and record-keeping. Non-compliance can result in penalties ranging from warnings to suspension, with heavy fines or removal of the board of directors.

For practicing expatriates, this framework has both advantages and constraints. It provides a safe and organized environment where services are held with the approval of the authorities, but it limits religious activism and any attempt at political mobilization in the name of faith. When attending a church, temple, or gurdwara, it is therefore advisable to inquire about the status of the structure and avoid any group that meets informally in private spaces while spreading very aggressive messages against other religions or the state.

Expected attitudes in public: respect, restraint, politeness

Beyond the legal texts, religious life in the United Arab Emirates is based on a multitude of implicit codes that expatriates would do well to incorporate into their daily behavior.

Good to know:

It is recommended to avoid sensitive topics like religion, politics, or morals to break the ice. Instead, show genuine interest in local traditions, such as how a festival works, or offer congratulations on occasions like Eid or Diwali, which is well received.

Language and gestures matter greatly. Religious insults, blasphemy, and obscene gestures are criminalized, even if uttered in anger or under the influence of alcohol. Social media is not exempt from this vigilance: a mocking comment about a religious practice, posted from a private account, can very well lead to a police summons.

Caution:

In public places, avoid drunkenness, loud arguments, and intimate displays of affection. In mosques, you must remove your shoes, speak quietly, not walk in front of someone praying, and not photograph worshippers without their consent.

The period of Ramadan naturally heightens these expectations. Avoid loud music while driving with windows down, refrain from very light clothing in shopping malls, and be patient if service is slow—many staff are fasting while working, sometimes in intense heat.

Religion and work: formality, flexibility, and accommodations

The work environment in the United Arab Emirates is often perceived by expatriates as more formal and hierarchical than what they are used to in more “casual” business cultures. Part of this formality comes from Arab business culture, nourished by Islamic values of respect, honor, and dignity.

Good to know:

In the professional environment, religion often influences rhythms (breaks, holidays, exchanging greetings). Many companies adapt their policies to accommodate religious needs, for example by providing prayer rooms, flexible hours for Friday prayer or Ramadan, halal or vegetarian catering options, and tolerating discreet religious symbols (veil, turban, kippa) when safety is not compromised.

However, two lines are clearly drawn:

– proselytism in the workplace, regardless of its religious origin, is frowned upon and can lead to sanctions;

– discriminatory or hateful behavior toward a religion or a colleague because of their faith is contrary to local law and most internal policies.

For expatriate managers, understanding these issues is crucial. A study conducted in the country showed that managers trained in cultural differences, including religious ones, adapt faster than those who arrive without preparation. Conversely, more than half of expatriate assignments can fail largely due to culture shock, misunderstanding of local codes, and family adjustment difficulties.

The most advanced companies therefore invest in intercultural training focused on the United Arab Emirates, covering in particular:

– the role of Islam in society and business;

– expectations regarding dress and behavior decency;

– time management during Ramadan and major holidays;

– legal obligations regarding non-discrimination and respect for religious matters.

For an expatriate employee, a few simple reflexes ease integration: inform your manager of any religious constraints (weekly day of rest, important holidays) with a spirit of compromise; welcome with goodwill the requests of Muslim colleagues related to prayer or fasting; avoid systematically organizing team events in bars or places where non-drinkers might feel excluded; pay attention to the food served (halal options, vegetarian, no pork for company meals).

Living your own faith as an expatriate: opportunities and precautions

Since the United Arab Emirates is one of the most cosmopolitan countries in the world, expatriates relatively easily find religious communities that match their beliefs. Christians have a vast network of churches of various denominations—Catholic, Anglican, Evangelical, Orthodox—often very structured, with weekend services, youth groups, catechism classes, and choirs. Many of these parishes offer services in multiple languages, sometimes over fifteen for a single church.

Good to know:

Hindus have temples in Bur Dubai, Jebel Ali, and the new mandir in Abu Dhabi for rituals and Diwali. Sikhs have a gurdwara in Jebel Ali with a free langar for all. Buddhists gather at the Jumeirah monastery for meditation. Jews have synagogues in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and celebrate their holidays, sometimes during interfaith events.

These communities play an important role in the mental health and integration of expatriates. Research shows that those who integrate into a religious group abroad suffer less from loneliness, adapt faster, and benefit from valuable mutual aid networks (housing, schooling, spouse employment, childcare…). For families, these places become cultural as much as spiritual anchors.

Tip:

To avoid trouble, it is essential to respect two fundamental principles, although the specific content of these principles is not detailed here.

– avoid any “wild” undeclared religious activity as soon as it has a public dimension (e.g., large prayer meetings in private villas followed by aggressive recruitment campaigns);

– strictly respect the prohibitions against criticizing other religions, even within your own community.

The best attitude is to reach out to well-established structures that know the local rules and comply with them, rather than venturing into informal groups whose leaders may ignore or defy the country’s legal framework.

Marriage, conversion, private life: sensitive areas to know

The religious sphere in the United Arab Emirates also touches on family law, especially for Muslims. Marriage, divorce, and inheritance for citizens, and in some cases for Muslim residents, are governed by rules inspired by Sharia. Two sensitive points for mixed couples are worth highlighting:

– a marriage between a Muslim man and a Christian woman is accepted by local law;

– a marriage between a Muslim woman and a non-Muslim man is not recognized, unless the latter converts to Islam.

Caution:

The conversion of a Muslim to another religion is socially and legally repressed, while conversions to Islam are officially regulated by religious authorities.

Non-Muslim expatriates married civilly abroad will generally have their union recognized for practical purposes (visas, housing, schooling), especially since legal reforms introduced civil laws applicable to non-Muslims in some emirates. Still, caution is required when discussing these topics in public: joking about a spouse’s conversion, debating the “superiority” of one marriage model over another are subjects to handle with tact.

How to train yourself and your family on these realities

Many expatriate failures stem less from technical work difficulties than from poor cultural preparation, especially regarding the religious dimension of local life. University studies conducted in the country show that managers who have received specific intercultural training for the United Arab Emirates adapt noticeably faster than those who only received a general briefing. Despite this, many multinationals still neglect this aspect for spouses and children, even though the family’s inability to adapt is one of the main factors in mission failure.

A good preparation includes several components:

Training on UAE culture and laws

A comprehensive program to understand the religious, legal, and social context of the UAE, facilitating integration and respect for local customs.

Foundations of Islam

Learning the pillars of Islam, its festivals, the meaning of Ramadan, and the special role of Friday.

Overview of other religions

Awareness of Hinduism, Christianity (various rites), Sikhism, Buddhism, and Judaism to grasp local pluralism.

Legal framework and respect

Introduction to laws on religious respect, blasphemy, cybercrime, and public decency.

Etiquette and practical codes

Guide to dress codes, gestures and topics to avoid, and etiquette in mosques and Emirati homes.

For school-age children, educational programs already incorporate, to some extent, the dimension of tolerance and living together. Expatriate families can supplement this by visiting places like the Abrahamic Family House, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, or the Jumeirah Mosque together, which offer explanations accessible to non-Muslims. Participating as a family in an iftar, a Diwali celebration at a temple, or a Christmas service at a local church allows younger ones to concretely discover the country’s religious diversity without demonizing it.

In summary: adopt a posture of respectful curiosity

Understanding the local religious practices in the United Arab Emirates is not about memorizing a catalog of “dos and don’ts,” but rather adopting a posture of respectful curiosity, structured by a few solid reference points:

Good to know:

Islam is the public reference framework, but other religions are present in an organized manner. Freedom of worship is guaranteed, but any insult or religious pressure is strictly prohibited. During Ramadan and near mosques, adopt appropriate behavior. Respect dress codes and a certain restraint in gestures, especially in conservative emirates. For authentic understanding, prioritize local resources like guided mosque tours, tolerance centers, and interfaith places of worship over clichés.

By doing so, the expatriate is not just “avoiding problems”. They discover that the religious dimension of Emirati society, far from being an obstacle, can become a powerful vehicle for exchange, mutual understanding, and lasting human connections, provided it is approached with humility and intelligence.

Cyril Jarnias

Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.

On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.

Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.

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