Say goodbye to dating apps or online dating. If you live in Dubai, it is totally an option for you to find your one true love in the classified section of whatever newspaper you’re subscribed to. That’s right, what used to be common before websites such as Craigslist or OkCupid came along is still going strong in some countries.
Dubai natives (or their parents or matchmakers for that matter) can post an ad in the newspaper specifying some personal information about the person and their desired spouse. People who think they could be a good match (or, again, their parents or matchmakers) may get in touch with them through the contact information at the bottom.
Texting and Driving Is More Common Than You'd Hope
While Dubai is at the forefront of some of the world's greatest industries, the driving culture there is a lot different than in other places. Sadly, distracted drivers are one of the most common reasons for car accidents in Dubai, and in the UAE in general. Many of those accidents are caused by young drivers who text or use social media on their phones while driving.
In 2018, students from the American University of Sharjah pledged not to use their phones while driving in an effort to fight road fatalities. While their initiative is commendable, this issue is far from being completely solved. Still, no matter where you are, it's always advised to look both ways before crossing the street.
You Can Get Some of the World's Most Expensive Cellphones
The level of wealth among high-class people in Dubai is sometimes hard for common folk to wrap their heads around. Most of us walk around with a smartphone that has limitless access to the internet and the apps we need, but in Dubai, the latest iPhone can be disregarded as a peasant's gadget.
No matter how many new iPhones and Androids keep coming out, those advanced mobile phones will never be custom-made items. As it turns out, custom-made smartphones or simply ultra-expensive models are something you see in Dubai more than anywhere else.
Marriage Is Taken Very Seriously
Sharia law speaks highly of proper marriage and frowns upon unjustified divorce. There are very specific circumstances under which a couple can divorce, and even then, there could be great consequences to such a decision.
This is why, in Dubai, married Muslim couples interested in terminating their marriage are advised to use the services of a marriage counselor or look for reconciliation before ultimately deciding whether or not they want to stay together. When you think about it, it sounds like a pretty good idea no matter where you live.
Fireworks Are a Big Deal
Dubai holds quite a few impressive world records. One of those records was achieved in 2014 on New Year's Eve when the city launched the biggest fireworks display in the world. The display included nearly 500,000 shells that were deployed over six minutes.
The display took months of planning, and the shells were fired from several launching spots stationed on the "World Islands," which is a group of artificial islands off the coast of Dubai. The previous record was held by Kuwait and included a little over 70,000 fireworks fired within a single hour.