IN THE QUR'AN  Islamic law, or sharia, permits commerce but prohibits riba – the collection and payment of interest. SHARIA MORTGAGES  Banks that follow Islamic law do not pay or charge interest and cannot assess penalties for late payment.  They earn profit by renting and leasing, or applying service charges.  Instead of lending money and earning interest over time on a home mortgage, an Islamic bank might arrange to purchase the home and resell it to its customer at a profit – a rent-to-own arrangement, with payments made in installments.

 Signage is in both Chinese and English  Feng Shui design principles used throughout – Balance of the five elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth in balance  Park faces the sea  Main entrance is north-south  Cash registers in corners to bring wealth  Lucky color red is everywhere to ensure happiness

 Lucky numbers incorporated  Main ballroom for weddings is 888 sq meters, which brings wealth  2,238 crystal lotuses decorate the Chinese restaurant because number sound like the phrase “easily generate wealth”  No 4 th floor because four is bad luck

 Clocks are not in shops: ‘giving clock’ sounds the same as ‘going to a funeral’ and is considered taboo

 KFC in China sells seasonal vegetables and rice porridge as side dishes  Changed slogan from ‘finger lickin’ good’ because it was translated as ‘eat your fingers off’  Created Asian mascot called ‘Chicky’

 Indian market changed product  Many Hindus don’t eat beef  Moslems don’t eat pork  Sells burgers made of potatoes, peas, and carrots, with Indian spices

“When negotiating in Western countries, the objective is to work toward a target of mutual understanding and agreement and 'shake-hands' when that agreement is reached - a cultural signal of the end of negotiations and the start of 'working together'. In Middle Eastern countries much negotiation takes place leading into the 'agreement', signified by shaking hands. However, the deal is not complete in the Middle Eastern culture. In fact, it is a cultural sign that 'serious' negotiations are just beginning. Imagine the problems this creates when each party in a negotiation is operating under diametrically opposed 'rules and conventions.' “ 