Communication style in United Arab Emirates

The facts NAME: United Arab Emirates LOCATION: Africa & The Middle East GOVERNMENT:   Federation with specified powers delegated to the UAE federal government and other powers reserved to member emirate.s OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Arabic (official), Persian, English, Hindi, Urdu. MAJOR RELIGION(S):  Muslim 96% (Shi'a 16%), other (includes Christian, Hindu) 4%. MAJOR ETHNIC GROUPS: Emirati 19%, other Arab and Iranian 23%, South Asian 50%, other expatriates (includes Westerners and East Asians) 8%.

Greetings Man greeting Man – A light handshake and sometime a kiss on the nose or both cheeks is common.  Woman greeting Woman – Friends and family usually kiss on the left cheek three times, or at least touch their left cheek to the other woman’s right cheek three times. Man greeting Woman –There is little to no touching between men and women during greetings in public.  Women may extend a sleeve-covered wrist or hand to be shaken.  Always wait for the woman to initiate, if at all.

Being tactful and less direct when communicating is appreciated. Communication Style Emiratis tend to favor an indirect style of communication over a direct style.  Avoiding confrontation and saving face is paramount. Being tactful and less direct when communicating is appreciated.

Personal Space & Touching Personal space is very important especially for members of the opposite sex.  A little more than arm’s length is the norm.   This  space may be less between friends and family members of the same sex.  Touching members of the opposite sex during conversation is an absolute no-no and definitely offensive.  There is a fair amount of touching between men.  It is common to see men holding hands as it is a sign of close friendship.

Eye Contact Emiratis tend to favor direct eye contact in conversations. While staring is not considered rude or an invasion if privacy, it is best for foreign men to avoid staring directly into the eyes of an Emirati woman. While talking to an elder,there usually is not much direct eye contact as a sign of respect.

Views Of Time Punctuality does not tend to be taken seriously. Because traffic is quite an issue here, it is normal to use it as an excuse for being late. The public transport buses are almost never on time and you may have to wait for an extra hour for a bus.

Meetings You are expected to be on time for meetings You should greet the manager or the person with the highest title first unless you are familiar with another person. Small talk is expected, inquiring about the persons health, family, etc., is common. Meetings do not tend to follow set schedules.  It is customary to remove your shoes before entering a carpeted room.  Meetings

It's bets to remain calm during negotiations and avoid any hard selling or high-pressure tactics. Decisions are usually made from the top down and usually take time.  It is important to not come across as impatient or over eager. Negotiations

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