United Arab Emirates

                             

 

UAE is considered one of the Gulf countries. The UAE are a federation situated in the southeast of the Arabian on the Persian Gulf, It has seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah and Umm al-Quwain.

                                                                              

Flag Description
Three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and black with a wider vertical red band on the hoist side; represent fertility (green), neutrality (white), petroleum resources (black), and unity (red); red was the traditional color incorporated into all flags of the emirates before their unification

United Arab Emirates Behavior 

  Avoid admiring an item to an excess, your host may feel obligated to give it to you. When offered a gift, it is impolite to refuse.

  Often shoes must be removed before entering a building. 

  Alcohol and pork are not consumed by those that observe the Muslim religion.

  There are several styles of greetings in use, it is best to wait for your counterpart to initiate the greeting. Men shake hands with other men. Some men will shake hands women, however it is advisable for a business woman to wait for a man to offer his hand. A more traditional greeting between men involves grasping each other’s right hand, placing the left hand on the other’s right shoulder and exchanging kisses on each cheek.

  The left hand is considered unclean and reserved for hygiene. Gesture and eat with the right hand. Should not point at another person.

  Men walking hand in hand is a sign a friendship.

  In the Muslim world, Friday is the day of rest.

  Should not cross your legs when sitting, showing the bottom of your shoe or foot is offensive.

  The "thumbs up" gesture can also be considered offensive by some.

  Gifts are not necessary, but appreciated. If you do give a gift, it will be open in private.

  Gifts to avoid giving include:

- alcohol
- perfumes containing alcohol
- pork
- pigskin products
- personal items such as underwear
- knives
- toy dogs or gifts that picture dogs
- images of nude or partially clad women (even in paintings or sculptures with artistic merit)

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UAE Business Etiquette  

Islam is the official and majority religion and pervades almost every aspect of life. Education, Laws, food, clothes, daily routines and even conversations are all strongly influenced by Islam. The Islamic faith places great emphasis on behaviors such as generosity, respect and modesty which most Emiratis will display. 
Hospitality is an essential part of Emirati culture and applies to both social and professional contexts. Guests will be received with enormous generosity.  In the home this usually comes in the form of a feast of traditional Emirate food, especially during the holidays, while in a business context, meetings are almost always accompanied by traditional Arab coffee and pastries. Sharing coffee is an important social ritual in the Middle East and it should be taken when offered. Cups should be taken in the right hand and, if there is a waiter standing by replenishing your cup, there are two ways to signal that you have had enough; either leave a small amount of coffee in the bottom of your cup or gently tip the cup from side to side.

Working practices in UAE  
• The working week traditionally starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday. Friday and Saturday are the official days of rest, though in some cases, people will work Saturdays.
• Meetings should be scheduled in advance with extra time allocated in case it should go on longer or start later than anticipated. In any meeting or telephone conversation, a period of small talk is expected before the purpose of the meeting or call is discussed

Structure and hierarchy in Emirati companies

• There is a strong vertical hierarchy in most Emirati companies. Many are owned and run by one powerful person who makes all of the decisions. This person must be treated with respect and deference, particularly if you hope to have a successful business relationship.

• Age, money and family connections are all key determining factors of a person’s status. Who you are is usually more important than what you have achieved. It is not uncommon to therefore find many members of one family working for the same company.

• Status is important and must be recognized by using the correct title such as Shaikh (chief), Mohandas (engineer) and Ustadh (professor). If you are unsure of someone’s title, find out beforehand or ask the person who introduced you.

• When first meeting a group of people, it is important that you shake hands and greet the most senior person first. Usually the oldest person in the room has the most seniority, but you might find there is another person who has stepped in to make the decisions. Always try to find out titles and status of the people you are meeting beforehand so as to show the right amount of respect.

United Arab Emirates Communications 

  Do not discuss the subject of women, not even to inquire about the health of a wife or daughter. The topic of Israel should also be avoided. Sports is an appropriate topic.

  Names are often confusing. It’s best to get the names (in English) of those you will meet, speak to, or correspond with. Learn both their full names and how they are to be addressed in person before you meet.

  Communication is slow, do not feel obligated to speak during periods of silence. "Yes" usually means "possibly".

  Meetings are commonly interrupted by phone calls and visits from friends and family.

  The person at a meeting who asks the most questions is likely to be the least important. The decision maker is likely a silent observer.

  A customary greeting is salaam alaykum. Shaking hands and saying kaif halak follows.

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Working relationships in UAE

• People in the UAE prefer to do business in person. Relationships and mutual trust are paramount for any successful business interaction and can only be developed through face-to-face meetings. It is important to spend time with your Emirati business counterparts and ensure future meetings take place to continue cultivating the relationship.

• It is important to have connections to someone in the UAE who can introduce you before attempting to do business there on your own.

Business practices in UAE

• The customary greeting is As-salam alaikum (peace be upon you) to which the reply is Wa alaikum as-salam (and upon you be peace). When entering a meeting, general introductions will begin with a handshake. You should greet each of your Emirati counterparts individually. In line with Muslim customs, avoid shaking hands with a woman unless they extend their hand first.

• Initial business meetings are often a way to become acquainted with your prospective counterparts. They are generally longer in duration and discussions are conducted at a leisurely pace over tea and coffee. Time should be allocated for such business meetings, as they are an essential part of the Emirati business culture. 

Appearance

• Visitors to Abu Dhabi are expected to abide by local standards of modesty however, do not adopt native cloting. Traditional clothes on foreigners may be offensive.

• Despite the heat, most of the body must always remain covered.

• A jacket and tie are usually required for men at business meetings. Men should wear long pants and a shirt, preferably long sleeved, buttoned up to the collar. Men should also avoid wearing visible jewelry, particularly around the neck.

• Women should always wear modest clothing in public. High neckline sleeves at least to the elbows are expected. Hemlines, if not ankle length should at least be well below the knee. 

Emirati Recipe  

What languages do they speak in United Arab Emirates?

Answer:

Arabic is the official language of the United Arab Emirates. However, it being a multi-cultural society, many languages are spoken. English is well known by most foreigners and locals alike and very dominant in the country. Then there is French, Iranian, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Russian and other European and far Eastern 
languages such as Chinese and Korean. People in the UAE easily know two or more languages.

ما هي اللغات التي يتكلمون في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة؟
الجواب:
اللغة العربية هي اللغة الرسمية لدولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة. ومع ذلك، كونها مجتمع متعدد الثقافات، ويتحدث العديد من اللغات. اللغة الإنجليزية هي معروفة من قبل معظم الأجانب والسكان المحليين على حد سواء والمهيمنة جدا في البلاد. ثم هناك الفرنسية والإيرانية والهندية، الأردية، التاجالوجية والروسية وغيرها من اللغات الأوروبية والشرق الأقصى مثل الصينية والكورية. الناس في دولة الإمارات العربية المتحدة بسهولة معرفة لغتين أو أكثر.
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Fun Fact

When holding business meetings in the United Arab Emirates, some foreign businesspeople suggest holding the meeting in the lobby of an international hotel rather than in an office. The advantage of this is that there will be fewer people wandering in and out of the meeting. Also, your counterpart’s willingness to come to you demonstrates a true interest. You will also have access to refreshments that may be more to your taste.