Top 5 rules of business etiquette in the United Arab Emirates

02 / 09 / 2020

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a Muslim country that lives by its own ethnic rules and norms. Before planning business meetings, in order to avoid unforeseen situations, you need to follow the rules of business etiquette and take into account the peculiarities of the Arab culture.

1 - Choice of clothes;

It is better to adhere to conservatism in clothes, otherwise locals may make a remark on the streets if they think that your appearance does not meet their standards. Modesty in the choice of clothing is important for women and men. Do not wear heavily exposed clothing. Cover your arms and shoulders. Business suits and ties are suitable for men for meetings; also, it should be noted that dark shades are otherwise perceived as conservative and professional. For women, you should also opt for a business suit or a skirt that covers the knees. There is no need for non-Muslim women to wear a hijab or headscarf. However, you need to remember that your outfit should be discreet.

2 - Greetings;

Every meeting, especially a business one, should begin with a greeting. As a sign of respect, first of all, according to Muslim traditions, it is necessary to greet the oldest person in the room. To greet Arab partners, non-Muslims should use "assalamu alaikum", these words mean "peace to you", and in response you will be answered "wa alaikum assalam", which means "peace to you and to you." Men shake hands when greeting. To shake hands, it is imperative to use the right hand, for Muslims the left hand is considered as “unclean”. Also, when exchanging business cards, it is best to use your right hand. When meeting a Muslim woman, don’t use physical contact, it is better to abstain from it altogether. When a woman meets a woman, a kiss on the left cheek is allowed.

3 - Business conversation;

At the first meeting, it is important to get to know the person with whom you are working, and also to establish a relationship of trust. In business communication, it is customary to ask about the well-being and health of the family; do not ask questions about daughters or wives directly, better to use, for example, “how many children do you have? Where do they get their education? " In business communication status is very important. It is necessary to use the correct terms, such as: the sheikh is the boss, the woman will be the sheikha, Sayed (master), Sayeda (mistress), and so on. Arabs call people by name, they also add mister, for example, Mike Stone will be mister Mike. In the UAE, Islam is deeply entrenched in the lives of people, so you can often hear in conversations religious expressions like "in'shallah" - this means "God's will for all."

4 - Table etiquette;

In the United Arab Emirates, Muslims do not consume alcohol. Most hotels serve alcohol, but local restaurants may not have alcohol, if alcohol was not offered it is best not to ask for it. During lunch, you should not skip food or supplements, as this is considered bad form. Pork should not be ordered from food, as a pig is considered a dirty animal in Islam. Eat with your right hand only. It is customary to leave 10% of the order for tea in the UAE. If you were invited to a Muslim's house for dinner, you must take off your shoes at the entrance; wearing shoes inside the walls of the house is disrespectful.

5 - Signs of attention;

After an invitation to enter your partner's house, you must show a sign of attention. It may be a small present. The gift can be related to a hobby of your partner. Keep in mind that this kind of attention will greatly please your Arab partner.