UAE Culltural Guidelines

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UAE CULTURAL GUIDELINES

The UAE is a wonderful mix of local and international cultures and people, of tradition and
modernity. Some 5 million expatriates from the US, Europe, Asia and the Arab region make it their home. There will be people just like you living, working and vacationing there. As with any visitor to another culture, visitors to the UAE will find it helpful to be sensitive to local norms, to take cues from their local hosts and friends, and to watch out for behavior which they have reason to believe might cause offence in any culture.
t Hosp ital it y Hospitality is an age old Arabian custom which permeates many aspects of UAE culture and relations with guests. Hospitality has become a noted and valued feature in the UAE today and visitors will often be pleasantly surprised at how warmly and genuinely they are greeted and treated. Ahlan wa sahlan, is an expression steeped in desert and nomadic culture and means essentially Welcome! t Greet in gs
often shake hands with Western women as well. It is best to wait for the host to initiate a handshake; if you initiate a handshake, please do not take offence if a more traditional man or woman places their hand over their heart in response to show their sincerity in welcoming you. t D re s s Like in any country, appropriate dress varies with the setting. At a resort or on a beach, you can expect people dressed the way they would at any resort, though even here extremely revealing clothes are generally frowned upon. In business or other formal settings and at peoples homes, clothes should be modest and women should generally have arms, shoulders and legs above the knees covered. Western women guests are not expected to wear headscarves. At public events, UAE locals tend to dress up and you may wish to as well. When visiting a mosque, women will be asked to cover their heads and may be handed an abaya (a robe traditionally worn by women in the Gulf states) to wear over their clothes. In mosques one removes one shoes; when visiting a family, you can check whether shoes are being worn in the house or not. When sitting, it is considered rude to show the bottom of your foot to another person, so be discrete if you cross your legs. t Time Like many non-Western cultures, timings are often more relaxed in the UAE. While all guests are expected to be on time when visiting local hosts or business partners, it is not uncommon for busy UAE nationals to be running late. Previous business or social meetings may run over time, and traffic can also lead to delays patience is important.
Greetings are important, and can be lengthy by American standards. As-salaam aleikum (Peace be with you) is the standard greeting, answered with the same or Wa aleikum as-salaam (And peace be with you). This will be followed by general questions about your health and the health of your family. Questions can be repeated at some length. As a man, unless you know a family extremely well, it is generally impolite to ask about wives and daughters. In a formal or traditional setting, it is common for men to greet the oldest or most distinguished persons present first, then move along greeting others. Traditionally, UAE men shake hands with men and women with women and not with each other. Men who are close will often touch noses (a local custom) or give each other light kisses on the cheek. Women will often embrace. As a visitor, it is unlikely that you will be called upon to do the same. Men will often hold hands longer throughout a greeting, and will often guide you by the arm when escorting you into a room or introducing you to others; this is a mark of friendship. In business settings, or with UAE nationals who have spent significant time abroad, women will often extend their hands to men for a handshake, and UAE national men will
Please see our website at uaeembassy-usa.org for additional information. Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/UAEEmbassyUS and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/#!/UAEEmbassyUS
UAE CULTURAL GUIDELINES
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t Eatin g As when visiting any new culture, you will encounter food and table manners which are new to you. A few suggestions will help you fit in. Depending on the setting, men and women may eat together or separately. If food is present on the table, one generally offers a dish to ones neighbors before serving oneself. Avoid where possible touching food, passing dishes or eating with the left hand. Muslim culture frowns on consuming pork products and these are restricted to certain restaurants and stores; if you are eating with locals or other Muslims, it is best not to order them. t Al c ohol Alcohol is served to non-Muslim guests at international hotels and restaurants. As in any culture, moderation is appropriate. Public drunkenness is a legal offence and highly scrutinized. In general, in the company of UAE nationals or other Muslim guests, it may be best to refrain from consuming alcohol. Some very religious Muslims will not remain in a setting where alcohol is served. t Il l egal dru gs The UAE has a zero tolerance for illegal drugs. Please do not consider bringing in or attempting to find illegal drugs in the UAE. t Rel ation s between men and wo men The UAE is still a relatively conservative Muslim society in matters of male-female relations. Men and women, boys and girls, generally do not mix as freely in public as they would in the United States. Public displays of affection are generally not appropriate, and displays that might be considered provocative are definitely discouraged. t Rel igion Islam is the official religion of the UAE and dictates its workdays and holidays. The UAE is tolerant of other religions and people are free to practice as their religions dictate. Pious Muslims will pray five times a day, including during working hours. Men will generally go to a mosque; women may pray in their offices or at home. Friday is the religious holiday.
Ramadan is a month-long period of fasting, prayer and festivities during which observant Muslims will not eat, drink or smoke from sunrise to sunset. During Ramadan visitors are requested not to eat, drink or smoke in public or in the presence of fasting Muslims; alcohol is generally forbidden. Food and drink will be available in international hotels during the day and restaurants will open to all after the evening fast is broken. Muslim families often break the fast at large celebratory gatherings called iftars. Do accept an invitation to attend an iftar; you will join your hosts in breaking the fast with dates and yoghurt and then settle into a sumptuous meal and animated conversation. t Ph o to g r a p h y It is always best not to photograph people up close without their permission, and men should be particularly careful about taking pictures of local women. Photography of military installations is forbidden, and you are advised against taking pictures in police stations, at immigration and customs posts or in any settings where you have reason to believe the authorities or owners might object. t B u s i ne s s R e la ti o ns The US and UAE maintain close and far-reaching business relations; over 1000 US firms do business in the UAE. When meeting UAE nationals, all the above considerations will apply, particularly those about dress (conservative), timing (being on time) and greetings. One more consideration is especially important. business in the UAE is founded on relations of interpersonal trust. Take time to get to know your partners and let them get to know you. Dont rush too quickly to the business matter at hand; patience, courtesy and respect pay off in the long run. The Department of Heritage and Social Affairs mission is to promote understanding between citizens of the United Arab Emirates and the United States and future leaders, as well as enhance appreciation of the cultural and social heritage of the United Arab Emirates.
Please see our website at uaeembassy-usa.org for additional information. Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/UAEEmbassyUS and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/#!/UAEEmbassyUS

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