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Although the constitution of United Arab Emirates provides freedom of religion, almost all the citizens follow Islam. Islam in United Arab Emirates is the prime religion practiced. The customs and traditions of United Arab Emirates is thus well blended with the Islamic culture.
The established customs of United Arab Emirates follow the rules of Islam. The Government of United Arab Emirates allows the progress of Islamic culture in the country with some restrictions. All the Sunni mosques restricts conversion of Islams in to any other religion and vice versa. Various religious groups are prohibited to gather or meet other than the religious buildings of worship. The Federal Constitution declares Islam to be the official religion of United Arab Emirates. All the seven of the constituent emirates of the federal union follow Islam strictly.
The Muslims of United Arab Emirates are divided into two classifications of approximately 85% Sunni and 15% Shi'a. Some Muslims in United Arab have immigrated from South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North America and Europe. It is roughly estimated that almost 55% of the foreign population is Muslim. Majority of the foreign Muslim population in United Arab Emirates reside in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Most of the Sunni Muslims follow the Maliki legal tradition. Some descendants of the Salafi group dwell in the Al Buraymi Oasis, and the Shafi'i legal school have their followers living along the Al Batinah coast. A rough survey shows that more of Muslims reside in Saudi Arabia and Qatar rather than UAE. However there are stern and strict Islams in UAE despite of the religious freedom. Other than Islam in United Arab Emirates, there are more religious groups of Catholics, Hindu and Buddhist.
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