Ask Ali: All jokes aside, Emiratis enjoy having a laugh

In this week's Ask Ali we learn whether it's appropriate to joke around with an Emirati and what the connection is with four-wheeling in the desert and the UAE.

Dear Ali: In my culture, we joke a lot, but I was told to avoid joking around with Emiratis. I'm wondering if Emiratis do joke around or do they not appreciate that? RF, Brazil

Dear RF: Of course we love joking. It's an essential element of our conversations, but maybe it's different from the jokes other cultures are used to.

Personally, I love joking. It’s not that you have to avoid joking around, but we’re cautious about being misunderstood and prefer to joke with our friends or families, rather than in public where we might feel shy laughing out loud. I’ve managed to get expats to laugh during my cultural talks, which is a great achievement if you ask me.

From another side, if a joke tends to make someone feel embarrassed then it can be translated as a lack of respect towards that person. Therefore it would not be accepted and that’s what we sometimes try to avoid. We really hate making people feel bad.

However, when jokes don’t mention anyone’s dignity and are harmless, then you can even build friendships, because usually we like funny and positive personalities.

The cultural background of people also dictates which jokes we tend to understand and those we don’t.

For example, if you start joking about the lifestyle of Arabs when you are not an Arab, it might be taken personally and we may get offended. So it’s important to understand the safe zone for joking.

But, yes, we can’t live without jokes, at work, home or among friends, and we send them to each other over the phone and via social media.

Dear Ali: Why are safari rides in a four-wheel drive into the desert considered a cultural experience in the UAE? How is it connected to UAE traditions? WE, Abu Dhabi

Dear WE: It might not be very connected in its present form, but desert safaris are offered by most tour companies across the UAE. They were inspired by the nature of sand dunes, which attract people looking to enjoy the thrill of driving on them.

Back when there were no roads between the villages in the desert, cars had no other way to reach a place than to cross the sand dunes.

There were certain skills required by the drivers to overcome the distance and not become stuck in the sand, as it could endanger their lives. If their water reserves ran out before they got help or found water, it would be a disaster. Even nowadays, some people go into the desert in their cars and get stuck or even lost.

However, with the help of technology, such as mobile phones and navigation systems, there’s less risk. Also, all drivers who work for the tour companies offering safari experiences have to undergo training before they can go onto the open sands with passengers.

Popular safari entertainment took its inspiration from the lifestyle in the desert and its transportation needs. Driving skilfully across the desert dunes isn’t necessarily part of our traditional culture because we used mainly camels, but when cars replaced the camels, we became experts in desert driving.

If you’re planning to go dune bashing, I suggest you do it in the late afternoon or evening, so you can enjoy it more, as the weather during the daytime can be too hot.

Ali Al Saloom is a cultural adviser and public speaker from the UAE. Follow @AskAli on Twitter, and visit www.ask-ali.com to ask him a question.