SPIRITUALITY
The UAE is an Islamic state and virtually all nationals are Muslims. There are two main branches of Islam in the Emirates. Approximately 80% of Emiratis are Sunni Muslim, while the rest are Shiite Muslim. The two branches have slightly different interpretations of some of the laws and customs of Islam. There is freedom of worship in the UAE and places of worship are available for Christians and Hindus, as well as for those from other faiths. 

"Islam" is an Arabic word meaning submission to the One True God. Islam reached this area in the 7th century. In 630 A.D., the Prophet Mohammed sent his general, Amr Ibn al-As, to this region with a letter to its rulers calling them to submit to the belief in Allah and follow the religion of Islam. Muslims believe that everything in a person's life can be guided by Islam. Islamic law, the Sharia, is based on the Qur'an, the Islamic holy book, and the Sunna, the prophetic tradition.
The essential practices of Muslims can be summed up in the Five Pillars of Islam. The first is called shahada and refers to acknowledging the uniqueness of God and recognizing Mohammed as his prophet. 

The second is the salat, the duty to pray five times daily. When praying in the mosque, Muslims face towards Mecca, the holy city of Islam and the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammed. The most important prayer, or Juma, is on Friday, when a prayer leader, called an imam, delivers a sermon. 

The third pillar is zakat, which means the duty to share one's wealth with the poor. The zakat is now an semi-obligatory property tax used to support the needy..
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Since Muslims consider a woman's hair private, it must always be covered. Traditional women in the Emirates wear a mask called a burqa that covers eyebrows, nose and mouth.		  
The fourth pillar is saum, or fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. Muslims may not eat, drink or smoke from dawn to dusk during Ramadan. Ramadan commemorates the month in which Islam's holy book, the Qur'an, was first revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. Muslims consider the Qur'an to be the word of Allah. 

The fifth pillar is hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. Every Muslim who can afford it and who is in good health is expected to make the journey at least once in a lifetime. Mecca is the site of the Kaaba, the holiest site in the Islamic religion.