The official religion of the United Arab Emirates is Islam and the call to prayer sounds five times a day on almost every street corner. People adhere closely to the tenets of Islam in all aspects of their lives.

Family ties are very strong and nearly sacred. National dress for men is the kandora (dishdasha), the long white robe and headdress. Women wear the traditional abbaya or black cloak.

The most popular national sports include camel racing, falconry and football.

The Sharia' Court enforces the law of the land which constitutes a mixture of written and verbal laws passed down from generation to generation.

The laws of the government are passed by His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, through the Emiri Diwan, to the various ministries and to the Municipality (Baladia) for implementation.

You must understand and respect the traditions of the UAE society in order to settle and to do business here. The cultural traditions go back to the days of the desert tribes and the influence brought upon them by migration.

Whilst the UAE is now a modern thriving entity, 50 years ago the towns were small with few facilities - electricity was powered by generator and water supplied by well. The leap into the developed world has taken place over a very short span of time.

An enormous amount of adjustment and flexibility by the national people, have been key factors sustaining this change. All expatriates are welcome but care must be taken to respect and honor the local traditions which are still very much part of life here.

We can only touch on the fascinating culture and customs of the Arab world but it is worth spending time to discover the hospitality and generosity of the Arab people.

Some of the basic values of Islam include honesty, courtesy and hospitality which help govern the society. One fifth of the world's population are Muslims, the followers of Islam and 19% of these live in the Arab world.

The Qur'an, God's words revealed to The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) by the Angel Gabriel in the 7th century AD, recounts the written law, forms of worship and morality.

The Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was born in Makkah around 570 AD (571 AD to 632 AD) and grew up appalled by the corruption around him. At the age of forty he received his first revelation from the God and he set out to spread the words of Islam. By 630 AD he returned to Makkah having gained the submission of most of the Arabian Peninsula's people to Islam.

There are FIVE PILLARS OF ISLAM on which religious duty rests.

The first is the profession of Iman or Faith. "There is none worthy of worship, except God and Mohammed (PBUH) is the messenger of God." This simple declaration of faith is called the Shahadah, a simple formula that all the faithful pronounce. The significance of this declaration is the belief that the only purpose of life is to serve and obey God, and this is achieved through the teachings and practices of the Last Prophet, Mohammed (PBUH).

Prayer is the second pillar of faith. Salah is the name of the obligatory prayers that are performed five times a day, and are a direct link between the worshipper and God. There is no hierarchical authority in Islam and there are no priests. Prayers are led by a learned person who knows the Qur'an and is generally chosen by the congregation.

The five daily calls to prayer are, Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (mid-afternoon), Maghreb (early evening) and Isha (late evening). Prayer times vary according to sunrise and sunset and are listed in the daily newspapers.

An important principle of Islam is that everything belongs to God and that wealth is therefore held by human beings in trust. The work Zakat means both purification and growth. Our possessions are purified by setting aside a proportion for those in need and for the society in general. Like the pruning of plants, this cutting back balances and encourages new growth.

Each Muslim calculates his or her own Zakat individually. This involves the annual payment of a fortieth of one's capital, excluding such items as primary residence, car and professional tools.

The fourth pillar is Fasting or Sawm. Every year, in the month of Ramadan, all Muslims fast from dawn until sundown -- abstaining from food and drink. Non-Muslim expatriates and visitors must also respect the fast by not eating, drinking and smoking in public. Working hours throughout the country are reduced during the Holy Month. The end of Ramadan is marked by the sighting of the new moon and the start of the Eid Al Fitr festival.

The last pillar of Islam is the Pilgrimage, Haj. The pilgrimage to Mekkah (the Haj) is an obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to do so. Nevertheless over two million people go to Makkah each year from overy corner of the globe providing a unique opportunity for those of different nations to meet one another.

The close of the Haj is marked by a festival, the Id Al Adha, which is celebrated with prayers and the exchange of gifts in Muslim communities everywhere. This and the Id Al Fitr, a festive day celebrating the end of Ramadan, are the two holidays of the Islamic calendar.