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Business etiquette - Social
customs
It
is discourteous to eat, drink or smoke in front of Muslims in daylight
hours during Ramadan. It is polite to accept the refreshments
customarily offered to visitors. Expatriate, non-muslim residents can
obtain liquor licenses from the local police headquarters enabling
them to buy alcohol from special shops. Penalties for drunkeness in
public can be quite severe.
Do not express admiration for something belonging to your host. This
is bad manners and can be taken as asking for it as a gift. Your host
is quite likely to insist that you keep it.
Do not present the sole of your foot to an Arab. This is a calculated
insult because the sole of the foot in the Arab world is considered to
be unclean. The younger generation, with plenty of exposure to the
West, is unlikely to take offence.
Do not accept food or anything else, with your left hand.
There are many Arab names for God, eg Aziz, Rahman, etc. These are
also popular names throughout the Arab world. Such names are always
preceded by 'Abdul' (meaning 'Slave of ...'). Anyone with such a name
must always be referred to as 'Abdul Aziz' or 'Abdul Rahman' etc,
NEVER as 'Abdul'.
Women business travellers
Dubai is probably the
most liberal minded and least restrictive Gulf region for women to
visit on business compared to say Saudi Arabia. However, it is still a
Muslim country and women should generally adhere to the customs of the
region and in public avoid potential offence by showing as little
flesh as possible. Foreign women do not need to wear veils.
Sharjah follows Islamic codes more rigidly than Dubai and following
the recent publication of the 'Decency and Public Conduct Rules and
Objectives' asks all tourist and business visitors to adhere to a
modest dress code while in the Emirate.
Modes of address
Dubai is probably the
most liberal minded and least restrictive Gulf rThe sequence of Arabic
names can sometimes appear confusing . A good guide would be to look
at the full name as being in three parts :1. Own name, 2. Father's
name and 3. Family name. For example Abdullah bin Mohamed Al Khalej
(Abdullah son of Mohamed of the Khalej family). This person would be
known as Abdullah which is his given name . The use of the correct
titles etc can be sensitive and special attention should be given when
formally communicating in writing.
The following is a general guide to modes of address in the UAE, as in
used in (a) in writing, (b) orally:
Presidents
(a) His Highness, Sheikh ...(full name) ...
(b) Your Highness
Rulers
(a) His Highness, Sheikh ...(full name) ...
(b) Your Highness
Other Sheikhs
(a) His Excellency, Sheikh ... (full name) ...
(b) Your Excellency
Ministers (who are
also Sheikhs)
(a) His Excellency, Sheikh ... (full name) ... the Minister of ...
(b) Your Excellency
Ministers (others)
(a) His Excellency, Sayyed ... (full name) ... the Minister of ...
(b) Your Excellency
Others
(a) Sayyed or Mr ... (full name) ...
(b) Sayyed or Mr ... (full name) ... or when on familiar terms, the
first name only.
Clothing
From the end of November
to the end of March, light or medium-weight clothing is suitable. A
light sweater is sometimes necessary. For the remainder of the year,
and especially during the hotter months, men should wear lightweight
suits or cotton shirts and slacks.
Jackets are worn for formal visits to offices and meetings. Normally a
lounge suit is acceptable for most occasions.
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