DESERT ENVIRONMENT AND ARAB LIFESTYLES

This paper examined the relationship between the hot desert conditions and lifestyles of people in the United Arab Emirates. The extremely hot and humid weather, lack of good rain fall, the vast areas of desert, and proximity to ocean are some of the important geographic and climatic characteristics of the UAE society. Several elements of culture of this people are shaped by the environmental and climatic conditions. The Arab?s developed many of their life styles as an adaptation to their surroundings. The traditional housings styles, food and clothing pattern, economic activity and family structure of Arabs seem to be related to their environmental and climatic conditions. It appears that the adaptation theory of culture fits well in the case of traditional Arab culture.