United Arab Emirates trivia: 47 questions and answers

Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is the capital, home to the federal government. Dubai is the largest city, Sharjah the third largest, and Al Ain is an oasis city inland.

Dubai. Dubai is the largest city, with about 4 million people as of 2025. Abu Dhabi is the capital, but a smaller city.

Seven. Seven: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Six founded the union in 1971 and Ras Al Khaimah joined in 1972.

The dirham. The dirham (AED), divided into 100 fils and pegged to the US dollar. Saudi Arabia and Qatar use the riyal, and Bahrain and Kuwait the dinar.

True. True. It has only wadis, dry valleys that carry water for a short time after heavy rain.

1971. The UAE was founded on 2 December 1971, now celebrated as National Day. Oil was found in 1958, Britain announced its withdrawal in 1968, and the Gulf Cooperation Council was founded in 1981.

Ras Al Khaimah. Ras Al Khaimah, the northernmost emirate, joined on 10 February 1972. Fujairah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain were among the six founders in December 1971.

The Trucial States. The Trucial States, after the treaties and maritime truces the rulers signed with Britain in the 1800s. The Barbary Coast was in North Africa, the Gold Coast is today's Ghana, and Aden is in Yemen.

True. True. The rig struck oil under Umm Shaif, an old pearl bed in the waters of Abu Dhabi, in 1958, and exports began in 1962.

Al Maktoum. The Al Maktoum, led by Maktoum bin Butti, settled on Dubai Creek in 1833. The Al Nahyan rule Abu Dhabi, the Al Qasimi Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, and the Al Nuaimi Ajman.

Mars. Mars. The Hope probe reached Martian orbit on 9 February 2021 to study the planet's weather and atmosphere.

Dried lime (loomi). Dried lime (loomi), the sun-dried lime of the Gulf, is cooked whole in the stock together with cardamom, cinnamon and turmeric.

Wheat and meat. Wheat and meat, usually chicken or lamb, cooked for hours and beaten into a smooth porridge, then topped with ghee.

Fried dough balls with date syrup. Luqaimat are fried dough balls with date syrup and sesame seeds. The name means 'little bites'.

True. True. The noodles are cooked with sugar, cardamom, rose water and saffron, and a thin omelette is laid over them.

Dates. Dates. Small cups of cardamom-scented coffee and a plate of dates are the classic welcome.

True. True. Camel milk is sold in supermarkets across the country, and also as flavoured milk, ice cream and chocolate.

Crunchy kadayif pastry. Crunchy kadayif pastry, the thin shreds of dough used in the dessert knafeh, mixed with pistachio and tahini cream.

Dubai. Hatta belongs to Dubai, although it lies about 134 km inland in the Hajar Mountains, surrounded by other emirates and Oman.

True. True. The emirate of Ajman covers only about 259 km². The emirate of Abu Dhabi, the largest, covers about 87 percent of the country.

828 m. 828 m. It opened in 2010 and, as of September 2026, is the tallest building in the world.

Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi. The white marble mosque, finished in 2007, is the largest in the country, and the UAE's founder, Sheikh Zayed, is buried there.

2017. It opened in November 2017 on Saadiyat Island, under an agreement with France signed in 2007.

True. True. The tower was built in 1761, grew into the ruler's palace, and is now a museum; it is the oldest stone building in the city.

The Al Ain Oasis. The Al Ain Oasis is part of the Cultural Sites of Al Ain, the country's first World Heritage Site, listed in 2011.

False. False. It is a group of artificial islands built from sand and rock from 2001 onwards, shaped like a palm tree.

True. True. Snow was recorded there for the first time on 28 December 2004.

Father of the gazelle. Abu Dhabi means 'father of the gazelle': abu means father, and dhabi means gazelle.

About 87 percent. About 87 percent. The other six emirates together cover only about an eighth of the country.

Three. Three: the Cultural Sites of Al Ain (2011), the Faya Palaeolandscape (2025) and Wadi Wurayah (2026).

True. True. It handled more than 92 million passengers in 2024.

2009. 2009: the date 9/9/09 and the time 9:09:09 pm were chosen on purpose.

Thank you. Shukran means thank you. Hello is marhaba, goodbye is ma'a as-salama, and please is min fadlak.

A market. A souq is a market, such as the gold and spice souqs of Deira in Dubai.

The sitting room for receiving guests. The majlis is the sitting room for receiving guests; the word also means a council.

False. False. The kandura is the long white robe worn by Emirati men. The black cloak worn by women is the abaya.

A wooden water taxi. An abra is a wooden water taxi, a small boat that carries passengers across Dubai Creek. A wind tower is a barjeel.

Wa alaykum as-salam. Wa alaykum as-salam, 'and upon you be peace'. Ma'a as-salama means goodbye, inshallah means God willing, and afwan means you're welcome.

God willing. Inshallah means God willing, and is said about anything planned for the future.

How are you?. Shlonak means how are you, said to a man; to a woman you say shlonich. The usual answer is 'zain, al-hamdulillah'.

True. True. Mashallah, 'what God has willed', expresses admiration and good wishes.

998. 998 is the ambulance. 999 is the police and 997 the fire service.

Sharjah. Sharjah. In the other emirates alcohol is served in licensed hotels, restaurants and bars, but drinking in public is illegal everywhere.

True. True. The application is made online before travel, and bringing such medicines without approval can lead to prosecution.

True. True. Most Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, so visitors should avoid eating, drinking, smoking or chewing gum in public during the day.

Only on beaches and at pools. Only on beaches and at pools, says British government advice. In malls and other public places, clothes that cover the shoulders and knees are advised.

July and August. July and August, when coastal temperatures often top 45 °C. The most pleasant months to visit are November to March.