Introduction
One of the main issues that investors have to deal with in the modern economic setting is doing business in a foreign market. According to experts, markets are unique because of different practices, beliefs, and codes of conduct that defines the culture of a place (Williams, 1998). Some of the distinctive features that differentiate one market from the other include style of negotiation, etiquette, dress code, business settings, and protocol applied among others.
Markets in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are quite dynamic because they attract investors and business developers from numerous parts of the world. It is located in the Arabian Gulf and consists of seven emirates that include Dubai, Ajman, Qaiwain, and Abu Dhabi (Tripp & Tripp, 2002).
Studies have established that most people who go to the UAE for business reasons often endure a culture shock. The business culture in the UAE is defined by five major elements, namely religion, meetings, personal relationships, gender and dressing, as well as greetings (Williams, 1998).
Religion
The UAE is an Islamic country, whose business culture is highly influenced by the religion. The business etiquette in the country as per the religion includes prayer breaks that happen five times in a day, no consumption of shellfish, and pork or its products (Tripp & Tripp, 2002).
During the time for prayers, no one is expected to conduct any business dealings. Islamic religion forbids the consumption of alcohol by all its faithful. Therefore, it is inappropriate for anyone visiting or staying in the UAE to take alcohol in public or in the presence of both government and religious leaders. The religion also forbids anyone from talking rudely about its prophets, as it is often considered a grave transgression (Williams, 1998).
Meetings
Religion also has a lot of influence on meetings, in terms of their setting and the appropriate time to have them. The working week in the UAE starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday. Friday and Saturday are considered as weekends, thus no business meetings should happen at the time. The reason for this unique working schedule is that Friday is a religious day for Muslims, just like Christians consider Sunday.
Punctuality is not held in high esteem by the locals, but foreigners are always expected to be on time (Tripp & Tripp, 2002). Hospitality is a crucial element of communities living in the UAE. Therefore, drinks are always served during meetings, where guests ought to accept them and compliment the host as a sign of respect.
This is the reason most meetings take place in hotel lobbies. Patience is held in high esteem, especially when disagreements or conflicting agendas arise during a meeting. Intense arguments are common, thus the need to be patient and slow when making decisions (Tripp & Tripp, 2002).
Personal relations
Businesses in the UAE are set up along family ties and mutual friendships. Respect and trust are values held in high esteem in the country (Williams, 1998). Studies have established that individuals who have good personal relationships with people in influential positions tend to have an easier time doing business.
Relationships are mutual in the sense that a favor is returned with another. Building good relations with others is crucial for a successful business in the country. Therefore, one should take advantage of the first meeting to achieve this goal (Tripp & Tripp, 2002). Age and social status influence the kind of people an individual is likely to build a relationship with.
Gender and attire
In the UAE, finding out about a woman’s welfare is highly prohibited. However, one is allowed to ask about the children and the way they are fairing. In addition, men should not touch women or have lengthy eye contact with them (Tripp & Tripp, 2002).
Women are considered special and details about their lives ought to remain private. Both men and women should have attires that cover their bodies to avoid indecent exposure. Religious sites are considered sacred. Therefore, women should cover their hair and shoes removed before entering (Williams, 1998).
Greetings
Recognizing people by their titles starting from the most senior is very important. Special respect is accorded to the elderly. People in the UAE are addressed by their first names. They use Sayed in reference to a man while a woman is called Sayeda (Tripp & Tripp, 2002). Handshakes are part of greetings in the UAE, and might take longer than in other parts of the world. Therefore, patience before withdrawing hands is very important.
Women in the UAE often do not shake hands with men. Handshakes should be done using the right hand, just as it does for eating and passing something to someone. Holding of hands, especially among men is normal and very common in the UAE (Williams, 1998). Therefore, visitors should not be shocked or resist such a gesture.
Conclusion
Globalization has created numerous opportunities for business development within and beyond their local markets. The UAE is predominantly a Muslim community that applies a lot of Islamic teaching in their daily activities, thus creating a unique environment for people not familiar with its traditions. Most of the people that work in the UAE are foreigners. This means that the UAE market is highly multicultural, a factor that can also influence the experiences of foreign business developers working there.
References
Tripp, H., & Tripp, M. (2002). Culture Shock! : Success Secrets to Maximize Business in the United Arab Emirates. Oregon: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company.
Williams, J. (1998). Don’t they know it’s Friday? : Cross-Cultural Considerations for Business and Life in the Gulf. Dubai: Motive Publishers.