Touring the United Arab Emirates Quiz

Answer: Eye of the Emirates

Sharjah is the capital city of the emirate of Sharjah, the third largest of the seven emirates that form the United Arab Emirates. Sharjah is the only emirate to have coasts on both the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. As well as riding the Eye of the Emirates, a large wheel that carries passengers 60 m (195 ft) in the air, you can visit the two traditional covered commercial centres called souks, visit one of the seventeen museums, check out the architecture of the many mosques, and stroll through such recreational areas as Al Jazeirah Fun Park and Al Buheirah Corniche.

Answer: It is shaped like a dhow

This luxury hotel (which claims itself to be 7-star, despite the fact 5-star is the internationally recognized top of the rankings) is built on an island 280 m (920 ft) offshore from Jumeirah beach in Dubai. It was designed to mimic the sail of a dhow, the iconic Arabian sailing vessel seen in the local waters.

It is hard to describe precisely, but when seen from the side there is one flat edge representing the mast, and one curved side which suggests a billowing sail.

Answer: Saadiyat Island

Most of the city is on Abu Dhabi Island, but there are residential and commercial districts on the mainland and on Reem Island, both reached by bridges. Saadiyat Island is being constructed, and plans include not only business and residential areas, but also a large arts precinct.

By the time it is completed it is planned to include the Sheikh Zayed National Museum (national culture), the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (modern art), the Louvre Abu Dhabi (classical art), a maritime museum, a performing arts centre, a campus of New York University, and an 18-hole golf course.

Answer: Electric guitar

Khaliji music usually features the double-sided drum called a tabl (similar to the Turkish davul, Greek daouli, Persian dohol, and Kurdish tupan, along with many others), which is usually set up so that one head produces a high note, and the other a bass note.

It is often accompanied by the mizmar (a wind instrument whose sound resembles that of an oboe) and the oud (a pear-shaped stringed instrument from the same family as the lute). The music may be the accompaniment for the vigorous line dance called the dabke (literally, stamping of the feet) which is commonly performed at weddings.

Answer: Liwa

The Liwa is traditionally performed by a circle of men, including drummers on the three traditional drums called the shindo, the jabwah and the jasser (and sometimes a fourth drum which performs as a percussion soloist rather than providing the beat for the dance).

The mizmar player starts striding around the inside of the circle, performing a solo for about 5 minutes. The drums join in, then the other dancers enter the circle to form a line behind the leader, and things speed up dramatically. The dancers sing (in Swahili, the language of the area of East Africa where the dance originated), and the members of the circle clap along.

The entire performance takes around half an hour. This dance is often performed on Eid, the feast to celebrate the end of the month of Ramadan.

Answer: Football / soccer

Since the United Emirates Football Association was established in 1971, it has vigorously promoted the sport. The local clubs have a fierce rivalry, with clubs representing each emirate receiving strong local support. The UAE qualified for the FIFA World Cup held in Italy in 1990, one of 22 teams to qualify from the 116 that attempted to do so. They came last in their pool during the round robin phase of the competition, having lost to Colombia, West Germany and Yugoslavia - a tough pool for a first-time team, as all three of these teams subsequently made it to the final 16.

Dubai is the site for one of the major tournaments on the professional tennis tour, the Dubai Championships (the actual name changes regularly as sponsors change) for both men and women in consecutive weeks. In 2009 Abu Dhabi became the venue for a Formula One race for at least a seven-year contract. Dubai also hosts, and fields a team in, the IRB Rugby Sevens competition. Camel racing, endurance riding and falconry are more traditional sports which are also popular in the UAE.

Answer: Cricket

Cricket is very popular in the United Arab Emirates, both as a holdover from the days when they were called the Trucial States, and under British control, and due to a large number of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent. The International Cricket Council, the sport's governing body, had its original home at the famed cricket ground Lord's.

In the early part of the 21st century it became clear that another venue for the headquarters was going to be necessary for taxation purposes and to move the headquarters closer to the growing cricket activity in the subcontinent, and in a more neutral venue than the traditional "home of cricket".

Answer: Pork

Since the United Arab Emirates is an Islamic country, pork is not served, except in some internationally-oriented restaurants, where it is clearly labeled as pork. Seafood has long been a central protein in the Emirati diet - not surprising when you consider the proximity to the sea, and the fact that the original residents had an economy based on pearl diving. Lamb, mutton, goat, beef and camel are found, although camel is usually reserved for special occasions, since camels are traditionally valued for their milk and their ability to offer transport more than for their meat. Rice was introduced into the Arab diet by traders.

Answer: Coffee

Since the United Arab Emirates is an Islamic nation, alcohol sale and consumption is strictly controlled. In Sharjah, it is totally banned; in the other emirates it is available only in some hotels and restaurants. Neither wine nor beer is a traditional part of an Arab meal.

Coffee, frequently infused with cardamom, saffron, cloves, cinnamon, or a combination of spices is often served as a start to the meal, and refilled as it is consumed. The meal often ends with tea flavored with mint as an aid to digestion. The presence of these extra flavoring agents means that you might want to have a sip of your tea or coffee before you automatically add milk or sugar - the results can be distinctly odd!

Answer: Women dressed in skimpy clothing

The thawb is a flowing white robe made from wool or cotton which is also called a dishdasha or a kandura. (Remember the robes which inspired Peter O'Toole to swirl and swoop in "Lawrence of Arabia"?) The abaya is a black robe that covers everything except a woman's face, feet and hands. It may be worn with a niqab, a face veil that leaves only the eyes exposed, and some women wear black gloves to cover their hands. Traditional garb is customary, not mandated as it is in some Arab countries.

Due to the large expatriate community in the Emirates, Western-style garb is seen quite often, as is the clothing styles of the Indian subcontinent. It is a matter of concern that some visitors adopt a clothing style that is not considered decent in Emirati society.