Current Time in AbuDhabi
Time culture in the United Arab Emirates
Time culture in the United Arab Emirates
The sense of time differs between business and daily life
In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), punctuality is the norm in business, while people are relatively flexible about time in daily life. In particular, when interacting with family and friends, delays of several tens of minutes may be tolerated.
Islamic prayer times shape daily life
In the UAE, where there are many Muslims, five prayer times a day are the basis of life, and companies and public institutions also create schedules that take prayer times into consideration.
Hybrid time culture
In the UAE, where tradition and modernization coexist, the strictness of Western time management and the easygoingness rooted in Middle Eastern culture are mixed. In urban areas such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Western-style time consciousness is becoming stronger.
Values regarding time in the UAE
How to use time with an emphasis on relationships with others
In the UAE, "who you spend time with" and "how you spend time" are more important than time itself. It can be rude to end a conversation or interaction midway.
Respect for time based on prayer and Ramadan
During religious events and Ramadan, the usual schedule changes significantly. Religious times such as "Iftar" at the end of fasting affect the movement of the entire society.
Patience and flexibility are considered virtues
Rather than getting angry about delays, people tend to prefer a flexible attitude, and the idea of "sabur (patience)" is deeply rooted in the culture.
Things about time that foreigners should know when traveling or relocating to the UAE
Punctuality is a given in business
In the UAE, where there is a lot of business with foreigners and international companies, punctuality is the basis for building trust in the business world. Being late can seriously damage your impression.
Beware of government office hours
Government offices and public service organizations have short business hours, so be aware of lunch breaks and Friday closures. Fridays are particularly different from normal business hours, as they are Muslim holy days.
The sense of time changes dramatically during Ramadan
Daytime activities are restricted and the city becomes lively after sunset, so you need to be aware of the schedule during Ramadan when traveling or carrying out procedures.
Plan for delays and waiting times
Even in urban areas, personal visits and appointments may not go as planned, so flexible scheduling is required.
Interesting trivia about time in the United Arab Emirates
During Ramadan, the signal to act is "one second after sunset"
At the moment of sunset, which marks the end of fasting, you can see the sight of everyone starting to eat at the same time as the adhan (call to prayer) is heard at the mosque, and the collective concentration on time is impressive.
Friday prayer always begins around noon
Jum'ah (congregational prayer), held before the weekly holiday, is an important religious event held every Friday afternoon, during which time activity in the city temporarily quiets down.
The adhan, rather than the clock, is sometimes used as a guide to time
Many people, especially older people and those in more conservative areas, keep track of the time of day by the adhan heard from the mosque rather than by the clock, and knowing the time by sound is part of the culture.