Morris dancing went down quite well. The majority of the population are from the Indian subcontinent, where there are dances with some similarities.

Islam discourages dancing, and the local dance seems to be swaying to the music, while holding swords.

I thought the 'Moorish' theory had been discredited years ago. In former times, dancers (and mummers) may have disguised themselves by blacking their faces, which may have been the origin of the theory.

Notes: Dubai-Sharjah Morris were founded in 1977 by an ex-member of Dartington Morris (Doug Smith). There were also sides at various times in Bahrain (St Georges), Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Riyadh, and possibly others I didn't hear about.