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Business etiquette in Dubai:

Meetings

Meetings tend to start with general discussions before moving onto the serious work and it is considered unusual to ‘get straight down to businesses. Business meetings in Dubai are often seemingly casual affairs, in cafés or restaurants, although it is easy to be caught off guard, as the pace tends to quicken rapidly and deals are struck in a fraction of the time it can take in Western Europe.

Greetings

when doing business in Dubai handshake involves touching the heart with the palm of the right hand after each shake. It is also inappropriate for a man to shake hands with a woman, unless the woman extends her hand first. International professionals should be sure to acknowledge each person in the room before the business meeting begins, and should take a few minutes to engage in small talk before getting down to business.

Business Hours

It is not proper to schedule a business meeting on Friday in Dubai, as Friday is considered a day of prayer and rest; it is also not appropriate to call Arab professionals on this day to discuss business. People in Dubai also take siestas daily, which are usually between the hours of 2 and 5 p.m.; business meetings are not to be scheduled during this time. Standard business hours in Dubai are Sunday through Thursday, from 8 a.m.to 5 p.m.

Translators

It is acceptable etiquette for international professionals to have a translator where English is not spoken be present at business meetings. In certain companies female translators are not allow, so international business people should do research in advance.

Manners It is very important to be courteous, and respectful, and spend time doing small talk.

Business cards

It is considered polite to have one side of your card translated into the local language (Arabic), and to present this side of the card face up when passing it on to an Arab colleague or client.

Business Communications

• 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.
• Don’t get into heavy discussions: For obvious reasons the Middle East is a sensitive area at present. It is neither polite nor wise to get into heated political or religious debate with your hosts.
• Meetings are commonly interrupted by phone calls and visits from friends and family.
• Never cause someone to lose face: Never criticizes or correct either a client, or colleague in front of someone else. This public loss of face will be deeply resented by the individual. Keep all such sensitive discussions to private meetings away from the public glare.
• 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.
• Never make a gesture to anyone with one finger pointing up. If you do need to make a gesture, use you’re your full hand.

For Business Etiquettes & Manners in other countries, please visit our countrywise network sites at : http://www.japanesecartrade.com/help/sites

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