Business Culture in UAE (Essay Sample)

The Business Culture In The UAE.
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Introduction.
The sophisticated state of the business culture in the Middle East is a debatable subject. For one to understand the nature of the business culture in the middle east, he/she has to know the states found in the Middle East. That said, the countries found in the Middle East include, The United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Lebanon, Turkey, and Kuwait among others. The region has various dialects such as Persian, English and Arabic. Though English is widely used in the region, one has to note that Arabic is the main language in the Middle East (Arabianbusinessetiquette.com , 2013). The region has an ethnic and cultural mosaic of racial and linguistic diversity. Each nation has a distinct culture and identity. Nonetheless, the countries have similar traditions and fundamental beliefs. Apparently, understanding the business culture of the region is imperative for any entrepreneur who is targeting The Middle East for any investment. What is the meaning of business culture? Business culture could be elucidated as the model or style of business operations in a given region or a given company. That said, this work describes the business culture in the UAE, how the country has a unique business culture then compares the business culture to nearby nations.
The UAE
The United Arab Emirates is experiencing rapid economic growth. It is a new State with seven minor Gulf states. Each of these states has their own exceptional history and identity. It has an exceptional blend of people and customs. The UAE mainly centered on maritime opportunities such as pearling and fishing before oil was discovered in the 20th century (Buttler, 2012). The discovery of oil bulldozed her economy to one of the richest nations in the Middle East. The country also has large numbers of foreign expatriates, which makes it the most socially liberal nations in the region. The brief history of UAE given above can help one understand the business culture of the UAE.
Values And Concepts That Dictate The Business Culture.
There are a number of values and concepts that dictate the business culture in the UAE. To begin with, the Islamic culture has an enormous influence on the business culture in the country. It is a religion identified by its approval of the creed of compliance to God and to Muhammad as the last and chief prophet of God (Chamberlain, 2012). The Islamic religion has played an influential role in molding the business culture of the UAE. In fact, appreciating the role played by Islam in the Emirati business culture is a crucial step for one to conduct a successful business in The UAE. This owes to the fact that Islam is the formal religion and that it also pervades almost every characteristic of the UAE life (Dew, 2003). The education system, clothing traditions, feeding habits, laws, conversations, and even daily routines are influenced by the Islamic religion. Their faith emphasizes on certain behavior such as modesty, respect and generosity. As a result, most Emiratis will display these traits in their meetings. Evidently, it is important for one to understand the key elements of the Islamic religion before he/she decides to invest in the UAE.
Another value that influences UAE’s business culture is the family. Close tribal connections and family lay the foundations for the social structure in the UAE. Tribes and families have a very influential role in shaping the values of the Emiratis (Europe Emirates Group, 2012). In fact, tribes and family support their members both emotionally and financially. As a result, the family is a priority in doing business. Loyalty between tribal and family members is extended into business. It follows that most companies and organizations are run by close family members. Consequently, any foreigner should expect to attend business meetings dominated by close family members (Explorer Publishing, 2006).
Another value that has an influence on the Emirati’s business culture is hospitality. It is a vital value of the Emirati culture, and it is used in both professional and social contexts. Visitors are always received with generosity. Business meetings are always served with custom Arabic pastries and coffee. One has to note that sharing coffee is an essential social habit that signifies the presence of a possible bond. Consequently, a foreigner should accept coffee when he/she is offered a cup (International Monetary Fund, 2008). It is an Emirati culture to take coffee in the right hand; thus, foreigners are also advised to take coffee in their right hands. There are two ways of signifying to the waiter that one has had enough coffee. One can tip his/her coffee cup from side to side. He/she can also leave a small amount of coffee in the cup.
Working Drills in The UAE
The working practices of a given nation also make up the business culture of the nation in question. Consequently, it is important to discuss the working drills in the UAE. To begin with, the working days in The UAE are different from the working days in other nations. In The UAE, employees are expected to start working on Saturday and stop working by Wednesday evening. Evidently, Thursday and Fridays are the days of rest in the UAE (Gorgenlander, 2012). Nonetheless, some individuals prefer to work on Thursday and rest on Fridays and Saturdays. The traditional working hours are known to be from 0900-1300 hours and 1630-2000 hours. However, work often goes beyond the intended time due to the boom in the construction industry. Lastly, the dates for UAE schedules are detailed in both the Hjirah date and the Gregorian date.
Business meetings in the UAE are planned in advance with additional time assigned to give room for extended or late meetings. It is common for meetings to be cancelled at the last moment. Consequently, one should be prepared by being flexible and carrying a business card or a letter. This is meant to inform the Emirati partners that you were prepared for the meeting before it was cancelled. In addition, the response to time in the UAE is different from other cultures. The Emiratis tends to be more relaxed than other cultures when it comes to time. To them, relationships and people are more important than punctuality and schedules. Therefore, it is common for Emiratis to arrive late for meetings. However, foreigners are expected to be punctual for meetings. To sum up, the Emiratis are relatively modernized when compares to other nations in the Middle East. Consequently, their business practices and traditional beliefs are evolving to resemble the western culture. Nonetheless, it is imperative to learn and respect the existing disparities.
Hierarchy and Structure of Emirati Companies.
Emirati companies display solid vertical hierarchies. Many companies are owned by influential individuals who make all the decisions in the company. One must note hat the person who asks most questions and talks a lot in an Emirati meeting is often less respected. The silent person who talks toward the end of a meeting is usually the most powerful individual in a business (Martin, 2008). This individual must be treated with deference and respect, especially if the investor hopes to build a successful business relationship. Family connections, age, and money are very vital elements that determine an individual’s status. The background and financial stability of an individual are usually more important than his achievements. As a result, it is common to work with members of one family in an organization. In addition, status is a vital element in the Emirati business culture. Consequently, Emiratis should be recognized by their individual titles. For instance, an engineer could be identified as Mohandas, a chief as Shaikh, and a professor as Ustadh (Miller, 2011). It is advisable to undertake a prior research of the individual’s tittles before any introduction.
Ultimately, one should reach out to the eldest person when meeting a group. Usually the oldest person is the most senior individual in a group. Nonetheless, there are instances where academic qualifications could make younger people respectable. There are also cases where a less senior person steps in to make decisions affecting the company. As a result, one should strive to identify appropriate titles and status for the Emirati counterparts.
Working Rapport in The UAE.
The Emiratis prefer to do business individually. Thus, Mutual trust and rapport are vital for any fruitful business association. Evidently, such an association can only be developed via a face to face interaction. It follows that it is crucial for an investor to develop a solid relationship from the first meeting. This can be achieved by spending time with the Emirati business counterparts and planning for future meetings to cultivate the relationship further. It is also necessary to develop connections with a UAE local who can introduce you to his partners before moving into the country (Tripp & Tripp, 2002). This owes to the fact that Emiratis prefer to do business with familiar faces. Ultimately, one should pin the fact that Emiratis prioritize friends and family. Consequently, it is common for the UAE’s to cancel or reschedule meetings in order to accommodate their individual wishes.
Another important aspect of building a working rapport in The UAE is the conversation. It is common for Emiratis to talk about their families' health. Nonetheless, it is considered rude to ask about an Emirati’s daughter or spouse.
Business Drills in The UAE
The conventional greeting in The UAE is "As-Salm alaikum," which is responded to by saying "WA alaikum as-Salam." When getting into a meeting introductions will start by shaking hands. It is common for Emiratis to maintain a close personal space between men. Conse...